Colorado’s Uranium Prospects Return as America Seeks Reliable Fuel Sources

By Scott Weiser | The Denver Gazette

Uranium mining in Colorado has a bright future.

George Glasier believes that.

From his cattle ranch near Nucla, Colo., where sagebrush valleys give way to rugged canyons, Glasier leads a company working to restart old uranium mines and build a new ore processing plant.

This push comes at a pivotal time for an industry that’s endured decades of booms and busts.

Uranium, the key material for nuclear power, was recently reclassified as a “critical mineral” by the U.S. Geological Survey under an executive order from President Donald Trump, who said he wants to “unleash” American energy. Formerly classified as a fuel source, uranium miners and refiners have not been eligible for the same kinds of taxpayer support offered to other mineral suppliers.

This designation acknowledges uranium’s vital role in clean energy, national security and the economy, especially as the U.S. seeks to cut reliance on foreign supplies. The change is intended to speed up approvals for mining projects and unlock federal funding, such as grants or loans — a potential game-changer for Colorado’s uranium sector.

Glasier, president and CEO of Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., has a story that mirrors uranium’s history. After law school, he worked in real estate before entering mining in the 1970s. He joined Energy Fuels, a company that became the biggest uranium producer in the U.S., selling to power plants worldwide.

Though no one was harmed, the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 scared people, leading to increased safety and environmental regulations from nuclear regulators that all but halted construction of nuclear power plants for decades, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Uranium prices tanked, going below $10 per pound for years, and mines throughout the U.S. closed. Glasier left the business, bought his ranch at age 48, and learned ranching on the fly.

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