Carbon/Emery economic development committee discusses nuclear energy, business grants, and coal exports - EUROPE SAYS
ORANGEVILLE — The Carbon/Emery County Economic Development Committee met on June 30, in the board room of the Emery Telcom office in Orangeville. As the meeting began, Brock Johansen asked those in attendance. . .
ORANGEVILLE — The Carbon/Emery County Economic Development Committee met on June 30, in the board room of the Emery Telcom office in Orangeville. As the meeting began, Brock Johansen asked those in attendance to introduce themselves and gave the same request to those online. Government officials, including state senators and commissioners, along with business executives and other personnel, were welcomed to the meeting. Patsy Stoddard, from the Emery County Business Chamber, informed the group about the Business Chamber grants and programs she has overseen during the past several years. Stoddard said the county first put the money into the San Rafael Research Center, but when the center seemed viable, the money was then made available for businesses in the county. She explained that most years, the program can help about 30 businesses. Over the past five years, more than 150 businesses in all parts of Emery County have received grants to help with a variety of projects. Businesses must apply, and a committee then reviews the applications before the Emery County Commission authorizes the grant distribution. Stoddard gave several examples of businesses and the improvements they have been able to accomplish with the grants. Jim Gordon, of Ponderosa Restaurant, also spoke as a grant recipient and testified about the help the restaurant has received from the Chamber and especially from Stoddard. A final report is required from grant recipients. The Junior Entrepreneur Program is also a recipient of $10,000 from the grant program. It was also added that the Chamber will be working with the Green River Business Alliance. The money comes through state economic development funding. Andrew Richards, vice president of government affairs with TerraPower, then gave an update on Kemmerer Unit 1. He began by explaining TerraPower’s reactor, called Natrium. Natrium is a sodium-cooled reactor that can generate 345 megawatts, with a storage system that can boost output to 500 megawatts for more than five hours. Richards said the storage system is what sets Natrium apart from other reactors. Kemmerer Unit 1 is under construction. In March, TerraPower received a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In April, the company began construction of the nuclear reactor. Richards said the process began in Kemmerer in 2024, and progress is now clearly visible. The unit has two sides, one that houses the turbine and power generation and another that houses the reactor. Richards said there are about 100 construction workers on site now, but in 2027 and 2028, that number could grow to 1,600 workers. Once the plant is operational, which could happen in the early 2030s, there could be as many as 250 permanent, high-quality jobs to run the plant. Richards said the ultimate goal is for future nuclear reactor workers to train at the Kemmerer site. He said demand for the technology is real and accelerating. TerraPower is working with Meta to determine where nuclear reactors can be coupled with data centers and utilities. The company is also working overseas in the United Kingdom to find sites for reactors. Richards said TerraPower has communicated with Gov. Spencer Cox several times and is excited about potential expansion in Utah. Tentative sites have been considered around the state. He said the work supports Cox’s Operation Gigawatt proposal. “Every step we take in Wyoming shortens and secures the path for Utah,” Richards said, adding that Emery County and Kemmerer are similar in many ways. A question was asked about what comes next now that TerraPower has a construction permit and an operating license is pending. Richards said the biggest challenge is that this is the first license of its kind for the NRC, and the agency has never done this before. He said TerraPower is working toward an operating license, hopefully by 2028. Another question was asked about construction labor. Richards said it has been a challenge, and TerraPower is working with different community colleges to start workforce courses. He said demand for this type of reliable power is high. Housing is also a problem in Kemmerer, and the site is away from larger urban areas. Richards said strong community support is important for any project. Commissioner Dennis Worwood then commented on his tour of the Kemmerer plant last spring. The conversation turned to molten salt energy storage and cooling systems. Favorable conditions in Emery County, including water and transmission lines, were also discussed. The new engineering program at Utah State University Eastern was also noted as favorable for this type of plant and its employees. The meeting then transitioned to Luke Higgins, senior director of infrastructure and government relations with Hi Tech Solutions. He provided an update for the proposed nuclear plant in Green River. Higgins opened by saying the Green River Advanced Nuclear Project would provide help in Emery County for generations. He then spoke about what the project is, what has already been done, what it means for the region, and what the next step is. Higgins said it is another energy source to add to the energy capital Emery County already is. He said the site has been studied, and land and access have been secured. There are years of data already in hand, the archaeology study has been completed, and the site has been found to be a good location for this type of plant. All that information can now be taken to the NRC. The plan is to build the project in stages. Higgins said those involved are making sure needed things are built locally. The project must receive a construction permit first, and the project is currently in the application process. Higgins then listed what the nuclear plant could mean for the region, including new jobs, growth of local businesses, an increase in the county tax base for schools and roads, reliable power during the day and night, a facility built to last at least 60 years, and a compact size on a small piece of land. For every 1 job created directly by the plant, another approximately 2. 5 jobs are created in-directly in the broader economy. Higgins also showed a list of the types of jobs that would be needed for construction of the plant, including welders, machinists, pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, crane operators, riggers, reactor operators, quality and safety inspectors and security workers. He said there is no single path needed for employees. Opportunities could be available for high school graduates, technical college students, apprentices, university graduates, military members, veterans, and experienced trade workers. Higgins said the plant would be added to Utah’s energy mix and would not replace other energy technologies. He said it would be similar to the plant proposed in Box Elder County. Brian Barton, from Jones & DeMille Engineering, and Worwood then gave a Rural Utah Infrastructure Coalition update and the Oakland port. President Donald Trump has announced $75 million in funding for the Oakland coal-export terminal. Some projects the coalition has worked with include the San Rafael Research Center and work with former Commissioner Lynn Sitterud several years ago. Barton explained that the coalition works to prepare the field for new developments. Another project is the Uinta Basin Railway Project. The coalition went to the U. S. Supreme Court over that project and prevailed. The ruling clarified how environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act should be handled for certain infrastructure projects. Barton said the coalition has been instrumental in making things happen that each county individually would have a difficult time accomplishing. The Rural Utah Infrastructure Coalition represents Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier and Uintah counties. It was previously known as the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition before the name was changed. The coalition has been looking at ways to obtain international markets for bulk commodities. Barton said there is a major market for Utah coal, but Utah is a landlocked state that depends on West Coast terminals to get coal into Asian markets. Barton said Asian markets will pay high prices for Utah coal because of its quality. He said the coalition’s mission is to complete a study of ports that could help Utah export coal. He said the politics on the West Coast do not match Utah, so the coalition is trying to be creative in finding ways to export coal. Barton said $55 million in state money has been sitting with the Community Impact Board since 2017, ready to be used for ports. Other states, including Colorado and Wyoming, also need export opportunities. Hinkins added that it is essential to get Native American tribes involved. Mexican ports have also been considered, but Barton said they are high risk. The focus is primarily on Oakland, California, and Longview, Washington. Barton said if international markets are available, more can be done to improve the quality of life in Utah. He said the studies are complex, but the two sites could be viable for Utah. Utah used to produce 30 million tons of coal each year but is now down to about 7 million to 8 million tons annually. Barton said that number could grow if ports were available. As the meeting came to a close, two other announcements were made. Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor recently reached criticality at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab. There has also been a series of educational seminars focused on nuclear being hosted in Price. There is a possibility in the future that Emery County may have that type of seminar offered.