Eagle Mountain looking to bring nuclear power to attract AI businesses
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (KUTV) — The debate over nuclear power is a hot topic in Eagle Mountain. The city is looking to bring the alternative energy source to town and with it attract AI businesses.
It started when the city of Eagle Mountain proposed changes to its zoning to make way for nuclear power in December, then tabling the motion until March.
“We have Meta, we have QTS, we have a few other high energy users and in order to support their full build-outs and in order to support what they are doing here in Eagle Mountain we need energy generation that can support that. Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Corp have indicated that they are not going to be able to build out full generation capacity,” Tyler Maffitt, the City Communications Manager said.
They are looking at Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, which come in forms like ceramic and molten salt. It uses small amounts of water compared to traditional nuclear reactors.
A bill introduced this last session, HB249, will establish a Nuclear Energy Consortium to advise state leaders on nuclear energy development and would allow local municipalities to create “electrical energy development zones” to designate a site for new energy development. Something the city of Eagle Mountain could then use as part of its nuclear power plan.
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Some residents worry about its safety.
Joy Rasmussen started a petition that gathered nearly 700 signatures against bringing nuclear power to her city.
“The location it’s too close to population centers it should be at least 10 miles away if not that 50 miles away because the waste will be stored where the reactors are. And that poses environment risks, health risks,” she said.
Eagle Mountain held a town hall meeting to discuss the safety of nuclear power on Monday night at Cedar Valley High School.
“Eagle Mountain has had a really really involved process of listening to our residents. We are aware of the petition and we’re empathic to some of these concerns. Part of the reason we are hosting this town hall tonight is to get these people answers,” Maffitt said.
Rasmussen went to the town hall and said she feels like “they made up their minds and they are just going through the motions to try and make us feel good but I’m hoping they listen.”
The city will now formulate a policy that lines up with federal and state laws and regulations. They will also incorporate resident feedback.
The next city council meeting is March 18, where they are expected to continue discussions on the zone changes and bringing nuclear power to the town.
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