Utah, Idaho and Wyoming governors tour TerraPower nuclear plant site in Wyoming
Gov. Spencer Cox and Sen. John Curtis joined the visit; an environmental group raised concerns about cost and waste.
Based on reporting by FOX 13 News Utah. Read the original story →
The governors of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming toured the construction site of TerraPower's Natrium nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, on Thursday, FOX 13 News reported. Bill Gates, who founded TerraPower, hosted the visit, which also included Utah Sen. John Curtis. [1]
TerraPower officials said the plant is designed to produce 500 megawatts at its peak, enough to power roughly 500,000 homes, and could begin generating electricity in 2031, with PacifiCorp buying the power. CEO Chris Levesque said it will use considerably less water than water-cooled reactors. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he has sought to bring TerraPower to expand into Utah. Gates said additional reactors would be sited in the area and that announcements could come within the next year. [1]
Curtis questioned executives about nuclear waste disposal. Levesque said the company does not plan to reprocess spent fuel and believes disposing of it in the ground is best. Idaho Gov. Brad Little said security around fuel is needed, and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said community concerns were considered. [1]
Lexi Tuddenham, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, told FOX 13 News she is concerned about who will bear the cost and burden, and about where waste would go. She called for more investment in renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. [1]
Sources
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