Nuclear developments in Wyoming, Kentucky, and Louisiana

Many regions of the country remain in the headlines with new or developing nuclear projects. Earlier this week, Nuclear News reported on recent goings-on in Indiana.

In other updates, TerraPower hosted top-level government officials at its Natrium site in Kemmerer, Wyo.; Kentucky is putting out feelers to gauge interest in available funding for new nuclear projects; and Louisiana's Advanced Nuclear Exploration Program is up for a vote at the next meeting of the state's Public Service Commission.

Natrium site gets visitors: Elected officials from multiple Western states had a chance to tour TerraPower's construction site in Kemmerer, Wyo., last week. The group included TerraPower Chair Bill Gates; Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon; Idaho Gov. Brad Little; Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; Sens. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), John Curtis (R., Utah), and Jim Risch (R., Idaho); and the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Goff.

"It was my pleasure to join my fellow western governors and our counterparts in the United States Senate for this tour of the next phase of a new generation nuclear power plant by TerraPower in Kemmerer," Gordon wrote on social media Thursday.

Kentucky issues RFI: The Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) has issued a request for information to gauge potential interest in the funding that is available through the state's Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program, as recently signed legislation establishes grant funding for site development and licensing to spur nuclear energy growth in the state. The program caps grants at $25 million per project.

The KNEDA is seeking input from prospective applicants and other interested parties on not just potential participation but also things to consider in future applications, such as timing, procedures, and guidance.

While the RFI is open to respondents who don't plan to apply for funding, those who ultimately will apply for funding are asked to describe how they plan to qualify, as well as whether they have a relationship with a utility.

The RFI window will close at 5:00 p.m. (EST) on November 6.

Louisiana commission weighs in on nuclear program: When the Louisiana Public Service Commission meets on October 22, one of the items on the agenda will be a discussion and potential vote on the state's Advanced Nuclear Exploration Program. The proposal would allow investor-owned utilities to partner with nuclear technology developers and vendors on items like feasibility studies, site assessments, economic analyses, and preliminary licensing/permitting work.

As currently written, funding for the program would come from participating utilities charging all metered customers a uniform 20 cents per month. According to an article from the Center Square, a commissioner will introduce an amendment that would replace the planned monthly surcharge with authorization for utilities to spend up to $2 million; the utilities could later seek to recover those expenses through electricity rates.