NUCLEAR PIONEERS: In 1951, the first nuclear reactor in Idaho was built, starting a legacy at what is now Idaho National Laboratory. Another 51 reactors followed and one reactor, the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II), was built at the current Materials and Fuels Complex. Between 1961 and 1994, EBR-II demonstrated inherently safe shutdowns, a new standard for nuclear reactors. Today, INL is the nation’s lead nuclear lab, leading the charge to keep our current commercial reactors performing and to create an ever safer, less expensive and more reliable next generation of nuclear power plants. Click here to read more about MFC.