Published May 17, 2024
By Christine Reed
The Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis (CERPA) in the School of Energy Resources (SER) released a new white paper exploring the economic prospects for nuclear component manufacturing in Wyoming.
Authored by Alex Gebben, an energy economist in the UW Center for Business and Economic Analysis, and Michael Peck, a CERPA nuclear industry research consultant, the paper is the second in a series of six white papers exploring and evaluating different aspects of a developing an integrated nuclear industry in Wyoming.
“This series is really about evaluating the entire supply chain of a nuclear economy in Wyoming,” says CERPA Director Kara Fornstrom. “We started by looking at the fuel source in the first paper – uranium mining and enrichment – and are working our way up through the various aspects of a full-scale industry to determine where Wyoming can distinguish itself and maximize opportunities.”
With an understanding that if nuclear power plant projects are to mature in the U.S., components for construction will be a critical infrastructure need. The paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with nuclear component manufacturing, and whether Wyoming would be a good fit for a nuclear manufacturing sector.
The study performs a cost-benefit analysis on various factors related to nuclear component manufacturing and evaluates them accordingly to determine whether they pose an advantage or obstacle to implementing an industry dedicated to nuclear equipment and supplies in Wyoming.
“The analyses in this paper provide insights into the nuclear manufacturing potential of Wyoming, which is a rich and complex topic,” says Gebben. “Economics are an important tool for decision makers to inform next steps and future policies for emerging technologies. We are excited to provide an in-depth evaluation of key areas along the nuclear supply chain.”
The paper concludes that there is potential to establish a nuclear component manufacturing industry in Wyoming, particular for small components. Additionally, it ascertains that it could provide a significant increase in employment opportunities should a nuclear manufacturing sector come to fruition in the State.
“The State is proactive in the nuclear component space,” adds Gebben. “There are planned nuclear capacity additions, and Wyoming manufacturing companies will contribute to these efforts. The extent of this development is set by expectations of future nuclear reactor production and infrastructure. What that means for Wyoming, is that if and when the opportunity arises, the State is already in a good position to help support the nuclear industry.”
To download the paper, research brief, or other resources released by CERPA, visit the website www.uwyo.edu/cerpa.
