UW Releases Community Information Guides on Nuclear Energy in Wyoming

The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) has released a set of community information guides addressing topics related to nuclear energy in Wyoming.

Publications in this series include “What Every Wyoming Citizen Should Know About Nuclear Waste” and its companion guide, “Getting Involved: Community Guide to Participation in Nuclear Facility Authorizations,” which seek to answer some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding the emergence of a nuclear industry in Wyoming.

Written by Scarlett Forrest, an assistant research scientist in SER’s Jurisprudence of Underground Law and Energy (JOULE) Research Group -- with support from Tara Righetti, JOULE director, SER professor of law and co-director of SER’s Nuclear Energy Research Center (NERC) -- the guides were developed in response to a county commissioner’s request for public materials related to nuclear facilities and waste.

The first guide specifically addressing nuclear waste aims to demystify spent nuclear fuel in the nuclear sector by providing clear, credible and locally relevant information about nuclear waste and its management in Wyoming.

The second guide provides a broader context by answering the most common inquiries about the establishment and management of nuclear facilities, helping Wyoming citizens navigate nuclear developments in the state, and includes recommendations for staying informed and involved.

“The management of spent nuclear fuel remains one of the most significant technical, regulatory and sociopolitical hurdles for the industry, and communities proposed to host spent-fuel-generating projects deserve clear and credible information to evaluate a project’s risks and rewards,” Forrest says. “We developed these guides to demystify the state and federal licensing processes and explain how nuclear waste is handled and regulated. Our goal is to ensure that Wyoming residents are not just heard but also equipped with the knowledge to participate meaningfully in discussions with policymakers regarding the authorization and siting of nuclear projects. By providing accessible, science-based information, we empower local stakeholders to advocate for their interests in the state’s energy management.”

SER is playing a central role in preparing Wyoming for a nuclear future by building the state’s research capacity, workforce and regulatory understanding. At the heart of these efforts is NERC, an interdisciplinary hub that coordinates faculty research across campus on topics ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle and uranium extraction to the socio-economic impacts of siting reactors in Wyoming communities.

To ensure the state is technically and legally ready for projects, including the TerraPower Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, SER has funded numerous seed projects, including the development of a nuclear chemistry core facility and white papers on microreactor regulatory frameworks.

Beyond research, the school is active in public engagement, co-hosting major events, such as the Nuclear Energy Emerging Issue Forum with the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, to foster dialogue among industry leaders, policymakers and local residents.

“A focus of my efforts as the co-director of NERC has been to address stakeholder appetite for accessible information about nuclear and projects in the states, through projects like the emerging issues forum and JOULE community guides,” Righetti says. “By equipping Wyoming stakeholders with comprehensive, accessible data, these guides ensure that local leaders and citizens are well-positioned to make informed decisions regarding the state’s energy future.”

The nuclear guides can be downloaded from the JOULE website along with other energy resources to help Wyoming citizens navigate energy development in the state.

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