Utah Republicans, led by State Senator Derrin Owens, are advocating for the state to host a federal nuclear waste storage and recycling site in Millard County's salt deposit. The push follows a Trump administration call for volunteer states to develop 'nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses.' Governor Spencer Cox said the state is evaluating the proposal amid local divisions.
State Senator Derrin Owens rallied lawmakers, lobbyists, and Millard County officials in a January 28 email, calling the opportunity to host a nuclear lifecycle innovation campus 'Utah’s once in a lifetime opportunity.' Owens, who represents half of Millard County, highlighted the county's massive salt deposit—formed from an ancient ocean—as ideal for storing and repurposing spent nuclear fuel. 'Let’s lead the West,' he wrote, urging recipients to press Governor Spencer Cox’s office to engage the U.S. Department of Energy. He noted groundwork laid with Curio, a Washington D.C.-based startup developing fuel recycling technology, and pointed out that only Mississippi shares Utah's geological advantage among interested states. Owens also referenced West Coast states' shift from fossil fuels, suggesting Utah could meet their clean energy needs. 'They will need Utah once again, if we land this fuel cycle.' The next day, Cox responded publicly, stating Utah is assessing collaboration with the federal government. 'America needs more reliable, affordable, and abundant energy,' Cox said last week, 'and nuclear will be part of that future. As we evaluate the entire lifecycle, including advanced recycling, we will focus on Utah priorities, including safety, environmental stewardship, workforce development, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.' Cox's 'Operation Gigawatt' aims to double the state's energy output this decade, emphasizing nuclear alongside other sources. The salt caverns already store fuels like natural gas liquids and hydrogen for the Intermountain Power Plant's coal-to-clean transition. Curio's CEO Edward McGinnis pitched lawmakers in September 2024, describing spent fuel as a 'mining business' with 96% remaining energy value. The company received $15 million in seed funding in 2024 and a $19 million Energy Department grant this February for its NuCycle process, which extracts minerals and reduces waste decay time. State reports project 3,000 jobs, $400 million in annual taxes, and $1.5 billion economic impact. However, opposition exists locally. Millard County Commissioner Vicki Lyman said, 'I don’t want it anywhere close to us.' Delta City Mayor KC Bogue added, 'I don’t want to be the dumping grounds for nuclear waste.' Commissioner Trevor Johnson questioned safe transport to caverns.