A packed conference room at the 8 Star Event Center received an update from a panel of experts on the nuclear microreactor pilot project planned for Eielson Air Force Base over the next four years.

The panel included Nancy Balkus, deputy assistant Air Force secretary for energy; Jess Gehin with the Idaho National Laboratory; Laura Willingham with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Bill Goodwin with Oklo, Inc.; and Col. Matt Johnston, Eielson’s commander.

The Air Force selected Eielson several years ago as the site for a commercial microreactor to demonstrate whether the technology will work at remote military bases. In June, after some setbacks, the Air Force announced its intent to award the project to California-based Oklo.

“This is a first-of-a-kind project on a military base, so we

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