“Energy superabundance” is the topic of discussion at this week’s Western Governor’s Association in Idaho. Among the topics is how to build public trust about nuclear energy. Proponents say nuclear power is steeped in controversy and opportunity.
Today some states highly restrict or even have a moratorium on nuclear power, while several states such as Idaho, Utah and Wyoming are embracing it.
The Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium is focused on changing the future of the energy sector. At a panel discussion called “Building Public Trust,” proponents discussed a new era and new efforts to change perceptions about nuclear power. Panelists said there is an uphill battle combating the lessons of the past like Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island.
Hope Morrow is a member of the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, who advocated for providing data and feasibility studies to urban and rural communities as well as tribes and working more in partnership with those groups.
“And if we can help them get that information to the best of our ability. We’re being consistent partners. We’re showing up the way they need us to,” Morrow said. “And then they can make decisions that’s best for them and hopefully that also aligns with the goals of the nuclear industry.”
Another speaker was Steve Kiser with WSP, a professional services organization based in Canada. Kiser said WSP has been involved in a dozen small modular reactor projects. SMR’s are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW per unit, which is about a third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. He said nuclear power is now in a new era which requires demystifying it.
For example, having community engagement in the site selection process before any new power project is built, is “critical to the overall successful deployment” of any power project.
“To me that needs to be part of the equation and understanding how that impacts a community and how accepting a community might be for whatever power might go there,” said Kiser.
Nuclear projects around the country are starting to pop up. Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania is expected to re-open in 2028 under a new name.
Idaho and Wyoming now make up the Intermountain West Nuclear Tech hub. Idaho is scheduled to lead the nation in small modular reactors. More than a dozen states have formed a new Nuclear Energy Caucus including some states in our region: Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.
In Nevada, Yucca Mountain has also been designated as a storage site for nuclear waste despite strong opposition.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between YOUR STATION, Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Northern Colorado, KANW in New Mexico, Colorado Public Radio, KJZZ in Arizona and NPR, with additional support from affiliate newsrooms across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
