By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Jump started in the past year by Gov. Jared Polis’ clean energy mandate and the imminent closing of the Craig Station Power Station, local governments have been studying new technologies — such as small modular nuclear generation and technologies that allow spent nuclear fuel to be recycled and repurposed.
In consideration of lost jobs and lost revenue to counties that will devastate historical fossil fuel energy counties, and seeing the increase in energy demands in the future related to AI technologies, data centers, semiconductor industries and quantum technology, local governments are working to keep those communities in their jurisdictions employed and electrified.
Elected officials that make up the members of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) have been gathering information funded by a series of grants to explore options for their communities.
One of the grants obtained by Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (NCEI) allowed the local governments to raise questions and get answers about whether or not they were interested in bringing nuclear energy to the Western Slope. The outcome of those discussions revealed that, in all age groups, advanced nuclear energy was viewed favorably by the stakeholders at a rate higher than the national average.
Another grant allows NCEI to launch its next phase of work, focusing on creating a regional coalition and fostering collaboration across multiple states. This phase includes the development of a multi-state stakeholder map, guided by the Department of Energy’s Energy Transition Playbook.
“The stakeholder map will connect local governments, private industries, educational institutions and community organizations, ensuring coordinated efforts to strengthen the workforce and stabilize the tax base,” energy advocate Matt Solomon says.
Economic Development Districts (EDDs) from rural, energy-burdened communities are serving as the golden thread in building the framework for a regional hub. By leveraging the expertise and networks of these districts, NCEI is ensuring that local needs and perspectives remain at the forefront of the planning process.
“Partisanship should not be part of energy discussion,” said Solomon of NCEI. House Bill 25-1040, a bipartisan bill that would allow nuclear energy to be added to the definition of clean energy, is critical., he says.
The language of the bill describes, in part, why the bill has support from both parties: “Colorado’s electricity needs are estimated to double in the next five years… Providing more options for generating electricity in Colorado, and will lead to a less expensive and a more reliable path to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions…Advanced nuclear energy can produce higher quantities of clean energy with a smaller land footprint than other clean energy sources,” the bill reads.
Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson said, “America should be energy independent no matter your politics.”
In addition to the House bill, the Colorado Senate has also introduced Senate Bill 120. This bill establishes the Colorado Nuclear Workforce Development and Education Program in the Department of Higher Education to address growing workforce demand in the nuclear energy sector. The program will create a grant initiative to support state institutions of higher education in developing or expanding nuclear engineering degree and certificate programs.
Gov. Polis revealed his Clean Energy Plan for Colorado in 2019, outlining a goal to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040.
In response, because Western Colorado wanted to be sure the process was driven by the local communities, not the state, they began exploring the future.
Carolyn Tucker, from the Colorado Department of Labor, told the group TerraPower is building a nuclear training center in Wyoming and that they would like to partner with the state on training a workforce for (advanced) nuclear jobs.
Unlike traditional nuclear energy, large amounts of water are not required in order to cool the plant.
Currently, there are no projects identified, nor in planning, as there is not a legal framework in place to pursue a specific project. The goal of the officials that make up AGNC is to engage their communities to find out what questions they need answered before moving forward with any specific project, and to make sure that the legal framework is in place that allows those communities to fully weigh the pros and cons for their communities.