NEWS
Following the departure of California-based microreactor startup Radiant Industries from Natrona County, recent federal legislative actions and commercial developments are reshaping Wyoming's position in the national nuclear energy sector.
On September 2, 2026, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan package of nuclear energy bills, including House Resolution 3978, known as the Nuclear REFUEL Act. The measure seeks to streamline the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing process for spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling facilities. Under existing federal frameworks, spent fuel rods are primarily held in long-term storage, though recycling processes aim to recover unspent uranium for next-generation reactors.
In Campbell County, commercial development has centered on fresh fuel fabrication rather than waste processing. Virginia-based contractor BWXT is advancing plans for a $500 million nuclear fuel manufacturing plant in Gillette. The proposed facility is designed to produce TRi-structural ISOtropic, or TRISO, fuel, which encapsulates enriched uranium kernels inside ceramic layers engineered for high-temperature reactors.
Addressing local inquiries regarding the origin of facility materials, BWXT's public filings with state regulators explicitly clarify that the Gillette plant will process fresh enriched uranium rather than recycled nuclear waste. In its application to the state, the company stated that the facility will not process or store high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel, nor will it be licensed to do so by the federal government. The project received a recommendation for a $100 million state grant, with an operational target date set for 2031.
While the Gillette facility focuses exclusively on fresh fuel fabrication, broader discussions regarding spent fuel recycling and storage continue across the region. Neighboring states, including Idaho and Utah, are also competing for federal nuclear research projects and testing sites. The Idaho National Laboratory, for example, hosts testbed facilities for fast-spectrum reactors, which possess the technical capability to run on recycled fuel formulations.
Within Wyoming, research conducted by the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources has evaluated the technical feasibility of various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, processing, interim storage, and potential reprocessing. Additionally, TerraPower is constructing a $4 billion Natrium advanced reactor in Kemmerer, which relies on high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel.
The interplay between local community feedback, such as the public concerns in Bar Nunn that prompted Radiant Industries to relocate, and federal regulatory updates reflects the complex policy landscape facing state officials. As Congress considers measures to reduce administrative delays for nuclear licensing, Wyoming communities and industry stakeholders continue to assess the specific scope, material inputs, and regulatory requirements of proposed nuclear developments.