Wyoming Emerges as Key Player in Next-Generation Nuclear and Low-Carbon Energy Development

Wyoming is attracting significant interest from investors and policymakers as it positions itself at the forefront of nuclear energy development and low-carbon fossil fuel innovation, Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports.

At the 2025 Next Frontier Energy Summit held May 6 at the University of Wyoming, Governor Mark Gordon emphasized the state’s pragmatic, technology-driven approach to meeting rising energy demands while addressing climate concerns.

“Wyoming talks about what’s practical, what’s good, and what we can accomplish if we really put our minds to it,” Gordon told an audience of approximately 350 energy professionals. “That has been the hallmark of American energy innovation.”

The summit, organized by the Wyoming Energy Authority, featured speakers from across the energy sector, including utility provider PacifiCorp, nuclear technology company BWXT Advanced Technologies, and representatives from the oil, gas, and uranium industries.

Gordon highlighted the state’s long-term efforts to develop regulatory pathways and attract investment in emerging energy technologies, particularly those that reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels. He said these efforts are beginning to align with broader market and national policy trends.

“I’ve evolved my message from an ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy to ‘the best of all-of-the-above,’” Gordon said, calling for a balanced energy mix that includes renewables, advanced nuclear, and lower-emission fossil fuels.

A focal point of the summit was the TerraPower Natrium nuclear plant currently under construction near Kemmerer. The project, which features one of the nation’s first advanced small modular reactors, is backed by TerraPower and utility giant PacifiCorp. Company CEO Cindy Crane confirmed that PacifiCorp has entered a tentative agreement to adopt the project as part of its long-term energy portfolio.

Crane emphasized the importance of the partnerships supporting the project, including those with the state of Wyoming, federal agencies, and the University of Wyoming.

“It is building a transition for our existing and experienced workforce,” she said, “and it is positioning Wyoming to continue and grow its electrification and supply of power throughout the western US.”

Crane also noted that while PacifiCorp is expanding its renewable and nuclear energy assets, the company remains invested in the future of Wyoming coal. The utility has already converted two coal-fired units at the Jim Bridger power plant to natural gas, with more conversions planned at the Naughton plant by 2026.

Despite shifting toward cleaner sources of energy, PacifiCorp is also exploring the feasibility of retrofitting existing coal plants—specifically the Jim Bridger and Dave Johnston facilities—with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. Though the cost of such upgrades could exceed $1 billion, Crane said they would support thousands of construction jobs and maintain hundreds of existing positions in the state.

“This is truly an example of planting the seeds for long-term jobs and economic prosperity,” she said.

Governor Gordon echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the high cost of first-generation clean energy technologies but stressing their long-term value.

“The technologies that have come along over the last couple of years are remarkable,” he said. “Yes, some of them are very expensive… but we’ve all had the benefit of lessons of time to develop the technologies and see what can be done better.”

As Wyoming navigates a rapidly evolving energy landscape, the state appears committed to maintaining its role as a key supplier of US power—whether from coal, gas, nuclear, or renewables. With backing from both public and private partners, state officials believe Wyoming is well-positioned to lead the next era of American energy.

Governor Gordon concluded with optimism:

“We have opportunities to innovate, to make mistakes, to correct from those mistakes, and to really drive through to a future that is efficient, environmentally sound, and economically sustainable.”