The Jim Bridger Power Plant may get a second lease on life if selected to house a new nuclear reactor being touted as a game changer for the state’s economy.
Gov. Mark Gordon announced the state would partner with TerraPower and PacifiCorp to build a next-generation Natrium reactor at one of four retiring coal plants in Wyoming.
Other plants under consideration are in Kemmerer, Gillette and Glenrock.
“I am thrilled to see Wyoming selected for this demonstration pilot project, as our great state is the perfect place for this type of innovative utility facility and our coal-experienced workforce is looking forward to the jobs this project will provide,” Gordon said during a press conference last Wednesday.
Local officials are already preparing their arguments for locating the plant at the Jim Bridger Plant near Point of Rocks.
“There are no cons to this project, it’s 100% positive,” Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo said.
Kaumo sees the project as providing quality jobs for residents of the county and sees the area as a great place to establish the reactor, citing the access to major transposition routes and skilled workers.
This project is seen as a lifeline to the area’s energy industry. The decommissioning of the Jim Bridger plant’s oldest unit is scheduled to begin by the end of 2023. With the eventual shutdown of the power plant, local leaders worry it would impact governmental and education funding through a decreased tax base and lowered enrollment as people leave the find work.
Kaumo said he knew of the plan ahead of time and is working to lobby for Sweetwater County.
“We’re excited, we’re going to do our best,” he said.
TerraPower and PacfiCorp will announce which cite will host the pilot project by the end of the year.
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded TerraPower with $80 million in funding through its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program last month. According to a news release from the Gordon’s office, the next steps for the project include state and federal regulatory permits as well as further project evaluation, education and outreach.
According to a website established by the state regarding the project, the companies will evaluate community support, the physical characteristics of each site, access to existing infrastructure and the needs of the power grid, as well as the ability for a site to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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