Utah Bids for Nuclear Fuel 'Lifecycle' Campus in Tooele County

Governor Cox announces plans to submit proposal to U.S. Department of Energy for remote facility to handle uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication, and nuclear waste reprocessing.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The state of Utah is submitting a proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy to build a nuclear fuel lifecycle campus on school trust lands in a remote part of Tooele County, about an hour's drive from Salt Lake City. The facility would handle everything from uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication to the reprocessing and disposition of nuclear waste, as part of Governor Spencer Cox's 'Operation Gigawatt' to expand the state's energy production, including small-scale nuclear power.

Why it matters

Utah's bid for this nuclear fuel campus is part of the state's broader push to embrace nuclear energy as a cleaner energy source, despite concerns from environmental groups about the costs, risks, and waste associated with nuclear power. The remote location was chosen to address public concerns, while still being close enough to population centers to attract workers.

The details

The proposed nuclear fuel lifecycle campus would be located in a remote area of Tooele County's West Desert landscape, close enough to Tooele and Salt Lake City for workers to commute, but far enough away to ease public concerns. The site has existing power and rail infrastructure, as well as proximity to Interstate 80, making it an ideal location. State officials say the facility could recycle up to 95% of the nuclear waste produced, greatly reducing the amount of radioactive material that would need to be stored.

  • Governor Cox announced the state's plans to bid on the nuclear fuel campus on March 28, 2026.
  • The state will submit its proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy by the end of March 2026.
  • The Trump administration is expected to choose the sites for the nuclear fuel facilities within several months of receiving the proposals.

The players

Governor Spencer Cox

The governor of Utah, who announced the state's plans to bid on the nuclear fuel lifecycle campus as part of his 'Operation Gigawatt' initiative to expand the state's energy production, including nuclear power.

Emy Lesofski

Governor Cox's energy advisor, who provided details on the proposed facility's capabilities, which would handle everything from uranium enrichment to nuclear waste reprocessing.

Kathleen VonHatten

A Lake Point City Council member who said her constituents want more economic development and jobs within Tooele County, rather than having to travel outside the county for work.

Senator Derrin Owens

A Republican state senator from Fountain Green who sponsored nuclear power-related bills in the Utah legislature and believes the state's nuclear prospects are a rare opportunity, while also emphasizing the need for proper regulation and monitoring of nuclear waste.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Utah is choosing energy abundance.”

— Governor Spencer Cox

“It's sort of the entire package.”

— Emy Lesofski, Governor Cox's energy advisor

“They want more economic growth so they don't have to travel so far. They can have jobs more in the county, so they don't have to travel outside of the county and be closer to home.”

— Kathleen VonHatten, Lake Point City Council member

“It's an opportunity that will come around every 200-300 years, it's that rare.”

— Senator Derrin Owens

“The hope is we'll be reprocessing 95% of that waste, so there will be very, very very little waste.”

— Governor Spencer Cox

What’s next

The state of Utah will submit its proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy by the end of March 2026. The Trump administration is expected to choose the sites for the nuclear fuel facilities within several months of receiving the proposals.

The takeaway

Utah's bid for a nuclear fuel lifecycle campus in Tooele County is a bold move in the state's push to embrace nuclear power as a cleaner energy source, despite concerns from environmental groups. The remote location and focus on recycling nuclear waste aim to address public concerns, while the economic development opportunities have garnered support from local leaders who want to bring more jobs to the region.