New nuclear power law takes effect, but first plant is years away

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A new state law that charts a path for Utah to burst into nuclear energy was powered on on Wednesday, but building “small modular reactors” will not happen at light speed.

“When do you think Utah will have its first nuclear power plant?” 2News asked Emy Lesofski, director of the Utah Office of Energy Development.

“Generally, permitting and licensing takes about two to four years,” she said. “And then about five-to-10 years to build.”

MORE | Nuclear power: Eagle Mountain looking to bring nuclear power to help attract more businesses

The approval is subject to a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission timeline, which is not a fast process.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Cox have prioritized growing Utah’s energy generation, saying, among other things, the state will need much more power to compete for AI companies.

HB 249, which passed the Legislature last session, was a step in boosting production.

The bill — now the law — sets up a Utah Nuclear Consortium, creates a fund to use property tax money to pay for energy generation, and also allows cities and counties to apply to establish energy development zones where power companies can get electrifying incentives.

A variety of interests supported the law — and while opposition seemed light — some voiced reservations.

“Nuclear power is two-to-six times more expensive per megawatt hour than wind or solar, and a nuclear plant can take twice as long to come online,” said Frances Benfell, who spoke against the measure at a Capitol hearing last January. “Additionally, nuclear power produces harmful waste.”

State leaders have cast new reactors as safe, and they appear less imposing than old nuclear power plants.

The small modular reactors are said to be largely built at a factory, then assembled on site. Reportedly, just one can produce power for hundreds of thousands of homes.

Renderings provided to 2News from the Idaho National Laboratory — which has a memorandum of understanding with Utah to collaborate on energy research — included a reactor carried on the trailer of a semi.

At least one community in Utah County, Eagle Mountain, has explored the possibility of an SMR there.

“I think at this point, there’s no place that’s off limits,” Lesofski said. “And there’s no place where it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”

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