Idaho Matters

Nuclear power plants and uranium mines may be increasing in the Mountain West

We look at towns that may see new nuke power plants and uranium mines and what it means for the economy and the environment.

Broadcast on:: 13 Jun 2023

A row of rusty red pick axes sits against a dull wood background. — (Georgie Sharp / Flickr)

U.S. support for nuclear power is the highest it's been in a decade and there are a number of proposals for new plants in our region. That could mean an uptick in domestic uranium mining.

Plus, we take you to a Mountain West town where billionaire Bill Gates and other investors plan to build a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, where locals are bracing for a huge influx of workers.

The Mountain West News Bureau’s Will Walkey and Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan report for Idaho Matters.