Already the home to significant nuclear energy activity, such as this EnergySolutions spent fuel burial site, Tooele County has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy as a finalist to host a federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. The massive installation will be built in one of five states, including Utah. (Courtesy EnergySolutions)
From an initial list of 28 sites in 26 states, Utah has been selected as one of five potential hosts for a federal nuclear energy campus.
Utah leaders have touted the proposal as potentially bringing billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs to the state.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC) program is an initiative of the Trump administration to help restore the country's domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.
Utah's choice was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the state of Utah and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) establishing a framework for exploring the potential development of an NLIC in Tooele County.
The DOE said the other states in the running for the campus are Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also signed MOUs with the four other states.
"I'm pleased to announce that after reviewing 28 applications from 26 states, the Energy Department has selected five initial contenders to further explore building Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses," Wright said at the MOU signing. "These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America's nuclear renaissance."
The state and Tooele County jointly announced in March that they were responding to the federal invitation to apply and had identified a location in Tooele County as a potential site. Officials have not publicly announced a final site or detailed development plan.
According to DOE projections, a campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and create nearly 25,000 jobs. Those figures are estimates for a potential campus, not commitments for investment or employment made specifically to Utah.
The proposed innovation campus would co-locate multiple steps of the nuclear lifecycle at one site, including enrichment, fuel fabrication, recycling and reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, and waste disposal.
The concept aligns with Utah's long-term energy strategy and commitment to power the homes and businesses in its communities with the safe, adequate, reliable, affordable, secure and clean energy they need, according to an official from the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED). Co-location would also provide a collaborative environment where government, industry and academia can work together to build the supply chain, workforce and jobs of the future.
"America's future depends on affordable, abundant energy," said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. "Utah seeks to build a complete energy ecosystem, from fuel production and processing to advanced reactors and the technologies they power — creating new opportunities for innovation, investment and good-paying jobs. We're doing it through responsible stewardship of the land and resources we've been entrusted with. We're grateful to Secretary Wright for his leadership and partnership."
"This is an historic opportunity," said Emy Lesofski, energy advisor to the governor and director of OED. "The economic and infrastructure benefits of hosting a campus like this are generational; we won't see another project with similar benefits for decades. We recognize there is still work ahead, but Utah has the innovative spirit necessary to take on a project of this scale and to do it in a safe and responsible way that respects and protects Utahns and the environment we treasure. We look forward to continuing this process with our federal partners."
The MOU is one of several steps in selecting a final site to host the NLIC. Additional analysis, stakeholder engagement and future agreements will be required before any final decision is made. Utah officials said they would share future announcements and opportunities for public engagement as the federal review process continues.
U.S. Sen. John Curtis praised Utah's selection, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen the country's domestic nuclear supply chain and create high-paying jobs.
"Utah has earned a reputation as one of the nation's leaders in advanced energy innovation, and today's announcement is another vote of confidence in our state's future," Curtis said in a statement released by his office.
Tooele County Council Chair Jared Hamner was quoted by the Tooele Transcript Bulletin at the time of the application in March, saying that the county's existing nuclear-industry experience and infrastructure could make it a suitable host.
"Hosting an innovation campus in Tooele would provide an opportunity to supercharge our economy by bringing long-term, high-paying jobs that will support Tooele families," Hamner said.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about expanding nuclear fuel processing and waste management in the state. In a statement on its website, HEAL Utah said that a campus could increase the amount and types of radioactive material transported to or stored in the state. The organization also raised questions about groundwater, air patterns, the Great Salt Lake, public health protections, and opportunities for residents to participate in decisions.
The DOE has said campus activities may include reprocessing and final disposition of used nuclear fuel, but it has not specified which activities would be included at a Utah campus. The department has said each proposal would depend on state priorities, regional capabilities and future agreements.
The DOE's announcement of the finalists did not specify a date for announcing the final campus location.
