Year in Review
2025 was a year of significant momentum for the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF). The Institute expanded its team, advanced high‑impact research, strengthened student engagement, and deepened partnerships across the region and nationwide. The highlights below reflect a year of growth, innovation, and increasing leadership in the energy space.
Student Intern Program
The INEF student interns had a busy year, touring Subsurface Chemistry and Carbon Sequestration Minerals Lab, Critical Minerals Lab, and Wasteform Development Lab at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; the WSU Sunrise Research Orchard, site of an ongoing pilot project for investigating the feasibility of agrivoltaics among regional apple growers; the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program; and the WSU Nuclear Science Center and reactor in Pullman. These tours of different labs and agricultural project sites gave the student interns hands-on exposure to different disciplines of engineering, as well as perspective on how science and energy intersect with public policy.
“I kind of liked how it was like a partnership between multiple disciplines and multiple groups and partners, and I thought that was interesting,” student intern Aliyana Avalos said about the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program site tour.
Students also assisted and engaged with faculty and industry mentors on various energy-related research projects and initiatives, diving into topics such as small modular reactors, irrigation, water rights, and more.
SMR Control Room Simulator
As preparations move forward for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, INEF has teamed up with Columbia Basin College (CBC) and Energy Northwest to install an SMR control‑room simulator inside the INEF building in Richland.
A formal ribbon‑cutting is slated for early 2026, after which the simulator will serve as an immersive training environment for aspiring SMR operators and safety technicians enrolled in CBC’s nuclear technology program.
The simulator will also support learning in partnership with the WSU Nuclear Science Center in Pullman, expanding opportunities for advanced coursework, certifications, and hands‑on experience for students and community members throughout the WSU system.
Institute Success and Recognition
2025 was a year marked by accolades and honors for INEF leadership, who earned some much-deserved recognition from their peers and colleagues.
Former Assistant Director for Agriculture, Extension, and Outreach Chad Kruger received the “Faculty Administrator Award” from WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences during an April awards ceremony.
“To be nominated by so many thoughtful and considerate friends and colleagues from across the College was truly humbling,” Kruger said. “I’m incredibly thankful for the people I get to work with on a daily basis.”
Kruger was also interviewed by several media outlets last fall, including FOX 13 Seattle, about the results of a 2025 study on agrivoltaics, the combination of solar panels and agriculture.
In September, Assistant Director Yonas Demissie won the “Leon Luck Outstanding Faculty Award” from the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture’s department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
“It’s good to be recognized. … It affirms the importance of your work” Demissie said, “Particularly, as a faculty member based outside Pullman, it feels especially rewarding to be supported by my colleagues across the system.”
Assistant Director of Program Development and Student Engagement Jillian Cadwell, attended the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI), a two-part program held at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory campus in Richland in the summer, and in Washington, D.C., in the fall. INEF sponsored the conference, which provides legislators, governors advisors, and policy makers with education on the North America’s energy infrastructure and delivery systems.
“Bringing policy makers together around emerging energy technologies and critical infrastructures is crucial as we work toward a resilient, secure energy ecosystem,” Cadwell said.
INEF Director Noel Schulz wrote a guest column in the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business for their December 2025 special publication on energy, touching on INEF’s mission, the focus areas of the institute over the past year, and what we have in store.
Community and Industry Engagement
INEF continued public outreach and industry engagement throughout the year.
In April, INEF hosted a public panel on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with panelists from WSU , Energy Northwest, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. More than 160 attendees joined in person and online.
The panel briefly covered the history of nuclear reactors and how the public perception of nuclear energy has changed over time, especially in Washington state. The presentation by the panelists was followed by a question and answer session that is available for viewing.
Director Noel Schulz spoke at Advanced Grid Institute (AGI) Day, held on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. Schulz gave an overview of the work the Institute is doing, introduced the team, and explained its role within WSU’s broader energy research ecosystem. .
Her presentation slides are available online.
INEF presented to the Washington State University Foundation Board on the current energy activities being done by INEF and systemwide.
INEF leadership gave other invited talks and presentations for several businesses, non-profit groups, and government institutions — including the CleanTech Alliance, Energy Solutions Summit (AWB Institute), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, University of Alabama, Virginia Tech University, the Washington Public Port Association, and more.
New Faculty and Staff
INEF welcomed five new people to the team in 2025:
- Erin Benson, assistant professor for the School of the Environment
- Jillian Cadwell, assistant director of program development and student engagement
- Flynn Espe, communications coordinator
- Mark Ferguson, administrative assistant
- Joey Franklin, research assistant
The Institute is excited to add even more faculty in 2026!
Looking Ahead
As INEF closes a year marked by growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact, we look forward to an even more ambitious trajectory in 2026. The momentum built through our research, partnerships, and student engagement has laid a strong foundation for the work ahead. With new faculty joining our team, expanded learning opportunities on the horizon, and an ever‑evolving energy landscape, INEF is poised to deepen its role as a catalyst for innovation in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Guided by our mission and strengthened by our partners, we will continue advancing practical solutions, fostering the next generation of energy leaders, and driving the research that will shape a more resilient energy future. The year ahead holds tremendous promise—and INEF is ready to meet it.