Utah Seeks to Host National Nuclear Innovation Campus in Remote Tooele County

State leaders aim to position Utah as a leader in advanced nuclear energy development and the nuclear fuel cycle.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:05am

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Utah Governor Spencer Cox and other state and local officials announced plans to apply with the U.S. Department of Energy to host a 'nuclear lifecycle innovation campus' on thousands of acres in the remote Tooele County desert. The proposed campus could include facilities for fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and nuclear waste disposal. State leaders believe the area's remote location, existing infrastructure, and access to a major metro area make it an ideal site to strengthen American energy security and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

Why it matters

Utah is positioning itself to play a key role in modernizing the nation's nuclear energy capabilities and the full nuclear fuel cycle. By hosting such a campus, Utah could help the U.S. reclaim leadership in advanced nuclear technologies, improve energy security, and support efforts to save the shrinking Great Salt Lake through more water-efficient nuclear power.

The details

The proposed campus would be located on thousands of acres in the remote northwest corner of Tooele County, about 55 miles west of Salt Lake City. State leaders say the area's geology, arid climate, existing infrastructure, and proximity to a major metro area make it well-suited for the project. If selected, the campus could include facilities for fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and nuclear waste disposal. Utah is competing with other states like South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Texas for the project, which the Department of Energy is expected to award within the next six months.

  • On March 28, 2026, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and other state and local leaders announced plans to apply for the nuclear campus.
  • Utah leaders say they are about a week away from submitting their formal proposal to the Department of Energy.

The players

Spencer Cox

The Governor of Utah who is leading the state's efforts to host the nuclear innovation campus.

Deidre Henderson

The Lieutenant Governor of Utah who has emphasized the safety of modern nuclear energy development.

Emy Lesofski

The energy advisor to the governor and director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, who is overseeing the state's application process.

Jared Hamner

The Tooele County Council Chair who has expressed support for the proposed nuclear campus.

Utah's Trust Lands Administration

The state agency that manages the thousands of acres of land being considered for the nuclear campus site.

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What they’re saying

“The question for all of us is do we build or do we continue to fall behind? Do we compete to win or do we retreat? At the center of this moment is a fundamental choice: energy abundance or energy decline. Today, Utah is choosing energy abundance.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah

“Safety is non-negotiable. Developing a safe, secure location for consolidated fuel management — building on decades of safe storage in this country while improving efficiency — is critical to advancing our nation's energy dominance.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah

“Today's announcement is the beginning of a process, not an end to one. We will work closely with federal and state officials and the community to get this right. No shortcuts. We will not compromise on safety. We will not compromise on the environment.”

— Jared Hamner, Tooele County Council Chair

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights Utah's ambition to position itself as a national leader in advanced nuclear energy development and the nuclear fuel cycle. If selected, the remote Tooele County site could become a hub for modernizing America's nuclear capabilities while also supporting efforts to address the environmental challenges facing the Great Salt Lake.