"In signing the contracts to proceed with construction of the NBAF's Central Utility Plant, DHS is confirming their commitment to moving forward with construction of the laboratory facility itself, " Brownback said in a release.

WSJ: DHS awards contract for utilities plant at NBAF

Late in 2010 one government agency, the National Science Foundation, unexpectedly withdrew its support for the construction of the South Dakota laboratory.

ECONOMIST: The future of physics (1)