Could Wyoming Spur the Resurgence of the Nuclear Reactor?

Wyoming holds the most significant uranium ore reserves in the United States, and mining this element has been the backbone of the state’s economy for decades.

According to Inside Climate News, the state is considering advanced nuclear reactors and energy-intensive industries like mining to power the grid.

According to the article, employment in the uranium industry in the United States is tracked by the price of uranium. Between 2002 and 2011, employment doubled from 200 to over 400 when uranium prices increased from around US$10 per pound to a peak of $55.64. But when prices fell, employment also declined.

In 2024, employment bounced back again due to many factors—the renewed interest in nuclear power stemming from the urgency to address climate change, the significantly improved safety systems of next-generation nuclear reactors easing concerns about meltdowns and accidents with radioactive materials and their serious consequences, and safe options to dispose of radioactive waste offering a promising future.

Lastly, Russia’s ban on uranium imports due to its invasion of Ukraine and its retaliatory ban on enriched uranium from the US have opened an opportunity for the country to increase domestic production to support its nuclear energy growth and technology.

Fuelling this renewed interest in nuclear energy, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act was passed in July 2024. This act aims to promote the demonstration and commercialisation of next-generation nuclear technologies and enables the NRC to update its regulations in favour of advanced reactors.

Wyoming wanted to capitalise on these developments announced in June 2024, and it has started building the infrastructure for the first sodium-cooled advanced nuclear reactor at the site of a retired coal power plant in Kemmerer, a historic coal town. Terra Power, a company funded by Bill Gates, will also build a research facility, a training centre, and energy storage, in addition to constructing the infrastructure for the nuclear plant. It will retain the coal plant’s 100 workers. 

TerraPower’s director of external affairs, Jeff Navin, says the nuclear power plant will look similar to the coal plant but will be a “fancy way to make steam.” Instead of burning fossil fuels to boil water that creates steam, the nuclear plant splits uranium atoms in a process known as fission to heat the water.

The advanced nuclear plant will use sodium instead of water as a coolant. Its higher boiling point than water makes cooling more efficient and simplifies safety systems, lowering the risks of failed backup systems that led to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown disaster.

Many companies will look for a low-carbon yet reliable and renewable energy alternative as coal power plants are retired. Microreactors, compact nuclear reactors generating between 20 and 300 megawatts of power, present promising solutions for Wyoming and other power-intensive industries like steel manufacturing, mining, mineral processing, etc.

Companies in the United States are already seeing the business opportunities in nuclear energy, such as building uranium fuel supplies, microreactors, infrastructure, and a customer base.

Regarding storing and disposing of radioactive waste, the World Nuclear Association outlines various safe methods for handling different waste types from high-level to intermediate and low-level radioactive waste.

The most widely favoured solution for high-level waste is deep geological disposal, typically at depths of up to 5,000 meters. In contrast, low-level radioactive waste is disposed of in near-surface facilities at ground level or in caverns about ten meters deep. With these disposal methods in place, the current focus has shifted to determining how and where to construct appropriate facilities.

With the nation’s largest uranium reserves, a history rooted in mining, and bold investments in advanced nuclear technology, Wyoming is uniquely positioned to lead the transition to a low-carbon energy future.

The construction of TerraPower’s sodium-cooled nuclear reactor in Kemmerer is a significant technological milestone and reflects a broader shift in energy strategy that addresses climate change, reliability, and sustainability.

As traditional coal plants are phased out, advanced nuclear reactors and microreactors offer a feasible alternative for powering heavy industries and businesses, as an addition to the grid or off-grid sites.