Wyoming Towns Explore Producing Their Own Power
There was the promise of more affordable and reliable electricity.
Yet, the price of power is going up, while reliability is decreasing.
That's why some Wyoming municipalities are thinking about creating power, locally.
During the 2025 legislative session, the Wyoming House and Senate will review a bill allowing Wyoming municipalities to build and maintain their local power source.
The bill is currently under review with the Wyoming Legislature’s Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee.
The idea is not just about creating more power but finding another source of local revenue.
Some municipalities may want to build an independent source of energy. Some may want to partner with existing utilities.
If you're thinking that some Wyoming communities are shrinking, so what's the need? Others are growing, and fast. Cities like Cheyenne, Cody, and Gillette, as examples.
Imagine your local city operating a solar or wind farm on public property.
But why just wind and solar?
Not everybody is convinced of the affordability and reliability of wind and solar.
Nor do people like the idea of the looks of wind and solar, which is considered an eyesore that takes up a lot of land for little result.
Coal, for that matter, a smaller natural gas plant, would be a far more affordable and much more reliable solution.
A more far-fetched idea (only because it is so new) was proposed in Gillette is the idea of micro nuclear reactors.
One small reactor, about the size of a one-car garage, could provide power for the entire town.
Yet, despite advancements in nuclear energy many are still afraid of it.
The idea of local energy will not happen any time soon.
It is only in the early, idea stages, of the legislative process.
When you think of small nuclear reactors, what comes to mind?
Can you picture what many small powerplants might look like?
Picture a small cube that provides a lot of power, with little maintenance.
The city of Gillette is considering the idea along with a company that, perhaps, could build nuclear microreactors in their area.
These microreactors would operate in Gillette while providing energy for residents and businesses.
This week the Gillette City Council approved a cooperation agreement with BWX Technologies, on the scope of the work.
It's estimated to take three years to complete.
The parties will study if local businesses can be part of the supply chain for these microreactors. Perhaps city offices could be powered by these reactors.
BWX Technologies, Inc.’s (BWXT) Lynchburg, Virginia facility, home of the world’s first commercial Critical Experiment Laboratory, has been in operation for more than 60 years. (BWXT Website).
The two-phase contract is to evaluate the viability of small-scale nuclear reactors.
The city has agreed that they are interested in evaluating nuclear energy as a source of heat and electricity for residents and businesses. The company believes it can deliver.
BWXT’s existing TRISO fuel production line, along with our ongoing increases in capacity, allow us to meet emergent client interests in Department of Defense microreactors, space reactors, and civil advanced reactors. By co-locating the TRISO production line with other existing uranium processing capabilities, BWXT has built a vertically-integrated facility capable of handling all TRISO-related needs, from feedstock preparation through to uranium recovery and purification. (BWXT Website).
These reactors would have a very small footprint on the land yet provide a long of reliable energy.
Campbell County has enough uranium to supply these reactors if local fuel is desired.
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