Utah could have a nuclear power plant within a decade — Here’s what to know
SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Utah historically has produced energy from coal, oil, and gas, but with Utah's growing energy demands, state officials are considering turning to nuclear energy within the next decade.
State officials held a conference last week to discuss what Gov. Spencer Cox is calling a "looming energy crisis" in the state of Utah.
Due to Utah's rapid population growth, the increase of electric vehicles, and the use of Artificial Intelligence , officials say the state's energy demands are rapidly increasing at a time when older infrastructures are being phased out due to environmental concerns.
"We have to do something bold. We have to change the way we develop power in the state of Utah," Cox said. "We need to double the power production in the state of Utah over the next 10 years."
Why nuclear?
To curb the track of this "looming energy crisis," officials have developed a plan called Operation Gigawatt which would include investing in nuclear energy production.
"Operation Gigawatt is about taking a challenge, an energy crisis, and turning it into an opportunity for the state," said Dusty Monks, the interim director for the Utah Office of Energy Development.
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Monks said bringing nuclear energy production to the state of Utah would help satisfy the increasing energy demand, provide local high-paying jobs to both white- and blue-collar workers, and increase the overall supply of clean power available in the western United States. He said it also could strengthen national security.
"Utah has the only uranium processing mill in the nation. And to be able to source uranium — the early stages of fuel, nuclear fuel — is a tremendous benefit in our national security," Monks said.
Fear of nuclear energy
Despite the many benefits of nuclear energy, building Utah's first nuclear power plant is not without its challenges. Monks said the upfront costs of building the infrastructure are "steep" and the perception of nuclear energy "has carried some excess baggage with it."
"A lot of it's unfounded," he said. "And [that's] not to try to diminish some of the instances that's happened, but to bring it in perspective."
He said nuclear energy is one of the safest energy sources according to hard data and that 20% of the nation's grid is already comprised of nuclear energy.
He referenced a University of California study that found individuals are more exposed to radiation by eating less than one banana than they are by living within 50 miles of a nuclear reactor. Monks also said airline pilots are exposed to higher radiation than nuclear power plant employees.
"A lot of people fear what they can't see, but when it comes down to the science and the data, it's not near as scary," Monks said.
Possible timeline and locations
The process of building Utah's first nuclear power reactors could take eight to 10 years or longer, especially since there is not any existing commercial-scale nuclear power in the state.
Monks said while it's still early in the site selection process, there is the option of converting a retiring coal plant to a nuclear power plant to cut 30% of costs.
As of now, state officials have identified four spots in Castle Dale, Vernal, East Carbon, and Garfield that may be good locations for a nuclear plant. That being said, authorities say it is "critical" that they have local community support for the project.
"We don't want to get ahead of trying to select a site without the local community's involvement," Monks said. "The state's not interested in forcing any community to take any energy resources, whether it's nuclear or anything else."
