nuclear-news

Hurdles and nagging doubts remain, facing Bill Gates’pet project – multi $billion Natrium nuclear

Multi-billion dollar Natrium nuclear project inches forward,  County 17 , 18 Aug 21,

A progress report to members of the Joint Committee on Minerals, Business & Economic Development in Laramie Thursday offered mostly good news to proponents of building a first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor in Wyoming. Even with the backing of the Biden White House and the U.S. Department of Energy, however, the nascent plan still faces numerous administrative and legislative hurdles.

Officials with Rocky Mountain Power — who will facilitate construction of the project alongside billionaire tech entrepreneur Bill Gates’ company, TerraPower — told lawmakers they will select a  project site by the end of 2021. They are eying four potential choices across Wyoming: Jim Bridger near Rock Springs, Naughton in Kemmerer, Dave Johnston near Glenrock or WyoDak near Gillette…….

Numerous legislative fixes would be required to keep Wyoming statutes up to date with changing technologies and accommodate such a facility……..

Skeptics

Some remained skeptical of the project’s broader implications.

State Rep. Chuck Gray (R-Casper) — a staunch advocate for coal — expressed concerns about a Wyoming-based utility courting federal funding to pioneer an alternative form of energy……

Others have raised environmental concerns outside of the meeting. …..

Natrium officials previously told WyoFile the waste produced by the facility would be stored on site.

Still up for debate, however, is how to tax the new style of reactor.

…. Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss (D-Laramie), however, was reluctant to give nuclear a tax-free pass, urging lawmakers not to set an arbitrary tax rate that would hinder Wyoming’s future earning potential….

The committee ultimately defeated a motion to reduce the state’s production taxes on nuclear energy to zero.

August 19, 2021 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Small Modular Nuclear Reactors