Utah State University President Brad Mortensen addresses a crowd at a ceremony marking the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the school, Brigham City and Hi Tech Solutions for the establishment of a nuclear energy innovation campus in Box Elder County. (Courtesy Utah State University)
Officials have taken the next step in the establishment of a nuclear energy innovation campus in Brigham City.
Late last month, Utah State University, Brigham City Corp. and Hi Tech Solutions LLC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate, plan and advance a collaborative technical training, certification and research and development campus in the Box Elder County city.
The proposed campus will serve as a regional hub dedicated to education, workforce training and innovation in the advanced nuclear energy, national defense and nuclear technology sectors.
"By aligning academic rigor with industry demand, the initiative aims to boost the local economy, strengthen national energy resilience and secure high-quality career pathways for students and skilled tradespeople," USU said in a release.
"This partnership reflects Utah State's land-grant mission and our responsibility to help meet the evolving needs of our state," said USU President Brad Mortensen. "Working alongside Brigham City and Hi Tech Solutions, we have an opportunity to explore new approaches to technical training and research that prepare students for high-demand careers, support economic growth, and strengthen Utah's leadership in energy and national defense."
The signatories to the MOU said nuclear energy and defense supply chains are rapidly expanding, driving an urgent regional and national demand for specialized talent. The envisioned campus will address this gap by offering a centralized environment for professional certification and technical trades and equipping workers with advanced skills tailored to nuclear operations, quality assurance and advanced manufacturing.
The campus will also host applied research and testing, providing industry-sponsored simulation laboratories, equipment testing and validation opportunities.
A core pillar of the new agreement is a focus on support for military veterans and transitioning service members. The campus will actively design credentialing, apprenticeship and workforce transition programs that leverage veterans' technical military experience. This targeted pathway will rapidly prepare them for careers in nuclear engineering support, plant operations, maintenance and safety critical to national security, the agreement says.
Under the framework of the MOU, the three entities will divide operational and planning responsibilities to ensure the project's long-term viability. USU will provide academic leadership, curriculum development, faculty expertise, research capabilities and administration of credentialing and degree programs, while also providing a long-term ground lease of the designated property. Brigham City will support site master planning, infrastructure coordination, regional economic development initiatives and local permitting processes. Hi Tech Solutions will serve as the master developer responsible for financing, developing and coordinating sub-development, along with providing industry expertise, equipment, technology resources and internship or employment pathways.
