IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Officials say a Utah energy cooperative is narrowing down its selections for a site to build a nuclear reactor in eastern Idaho.

The Post Register reports the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems has identified four places to build the small modular power plant on the Idaho National Laboratory site. The cooperative's government affairs officer Ted Rampton says the U.S. Department of Energy is expected to weigh in on the selections in coming days.

The reactor is being built by Oregon-based NuScale Power and will be able to produce 50 megawatts. Experts say the reactors are designed to be safer than conventional nuclear plants by being able to shut down without human involvement in the event of a disaster. Officials expect the plant to be up and running by 2024.

More From Kool 96.5