CASPER — Natrona County commissioners are backing RadiantNuclear’s request for $25 million in state funding to construct a facility near Bar Nunn. This is despite strong opposition from local residents to the company’s plans to store spent nuclear fuel there.
State Rep. Bill Allemand, who represents Bar Nunn, delivered a blistering critique of the project before commissioners gave their approval on Tuesday, stating that his constituents overwhelmingly oppose it.
“There’s a huge pushback,” Allemand said, describing a recent Radiant town hall where “23 out of 25 people were extremely against it.”
He stated that another town hall drew 150 people, “140 were against it.”
Allemand claimed that there is “no benefit for the state of Wyoming, Natrona County, or Bar Nunn” because initial sales would go to the US Department of Defense, which does not pay sales tax, and manufacturing taxes are exempt until 2042.
“It takes 72 years with no interest to pay that $25 million back,” Allemand argued, challenging Radiant’s job projections.
He estimated that the company would hire closer to 100 people rather than the promised 250, costing “$250,000 per job.”
Most importantly, Allemand claimed Radiant’s business model of storing spent nuclear fuel from other sites violated Wyoming law.
“After five years, about 50% of this fuel is spent,” he explained. “It returns to Bar Nunn; the old fuel is removed and stored. “The residents of Bar Nunn do not want this in their backyard.”
Allemand emphasized that if the project was proposed 30 miles or more away, Bar Nunn might be okay with it.
However, as proposed, it is a turnoff for many, according to Allemand, who refers to spent fuel as “the deadliest of the deadly.”
“The people of Bar Nunn are at this point mobilizing.” He continued: “And there will be a huge pushback. You must put an end to this before it becomes out of control.”
No waste
Bar Nunn residents told commissioners essentially the same thing, with several expressing frustration that the commissioners were still learning new details about the project at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I am appalled that you guys don’t even know what Radiant’s plans are, but yet you’re getting ready to approve a letter of support,” said Venus Childress, noting that Radiant has stated that it will proceed “regardless of whether or not this grant is awarded.”
Childress questioned why taxpayers should pay for Radiant’s office building and highlighted local opposition.
“As far as Bar Nunn, I’m telling you, we’re not for it,” Childress stated. “Yes, there are a few who are okay with it. The overwhelming majority are not. “I don’t want spent nuclear fuel in my backyard.”
Kayla Wolosin, who claimed to represent multiple Bar Nunn families, stated that “the one concern that we all do share is storage” and that “something new comes up that’s a new concern” at each public meeting.
Mitchell Groskopf, who lives less than 1,000 yards from the proposed site, stated that “every single one” of his neighbors is opposed to the project due to concerns about property values and safety.
“I’m just asking you to slow down on this. “I feel like it’s moving too quickly,” Groskopf said.
“Do you guys understand how toxic this stuff is?” asked Michael Newquest of Bar Nunn, whose impassioned testimony included a shout out to Wyoming as “the freest state” and a plea to the commission to “stop this at all costs.” This is not a joke. Am I a scientist? No. I worked around it. What they are saying is not true. Please take a look.
Leanne Newquest, who has attended “absolutely every single Radiant discussion,” claims the company frequently defers questions to federal regulators without providing direct answers, and that they “still don’t even have a contractor for their storage casks.”
“Bar Nunn residents still have many questions. “We still have a lot of concerns,” Newquest explained. “That appears to be Radiant’s business model—we’ll figure it out as we go.
“I would like to request that no letters of support be given in any form. I don’t want to be responsible for imposing this on future generations. “I don’t want to do this to others.”
Commissioners Are Unconvinced
Despite the opposition, commissioners expressed support for moving the process forward while gathering additional information.
Commissioner Peter Nicolaysen defended the project’s potential benefits, stating that he sees “tremendous benefit potentially” including jobs and the facility acting “as a catalyst for other businesses.”
“The information I have up to this point indicates that this is a legitimate, viable project that can benefit our community for generations,” Nicolaysen said, acknowledging concerns about misinformation on both sides.
Commissioner Jim Milne supported Nicolaysen’s point of view, saying, “Both sides need to educate themselves, so listen and keep an open mind.”
“Will I just automatically rubber stamp ‘yeah, Radiant, you’re good to go?'” Absolutely not. Milne stated, “There is a process, and we will follow it.”
Commissioner Casey Coates focused on the benefits of bringing manufacturing to Bar Nunn, as well as the storage issue.
“I’ve heard from several residents of Bar Nunn, and they’re generally supportive of the manufacturing,” he told me.
Regarding storage, Coates stated, “Radiant has to answer to that” and requires “a real solution, not just lip service.”
Grant Details:
Justin Farley of the economic development group Advance Casper clarified that the $25 million would not go directly to Radiant, but would instead fund infrastructure such as roads, security, parking, and a publicly owned office building that Radiant would lease for approximately $1 million per year.
The Wyoming Business Council provides funding in phases based on project milestones, including approval from Idaho National Labs for Radiant’s reactor prototype.
Nicolaysen stated that the funds “have already been allocated” by the Legislature and “will go somewhere,” arguing that they should be spent locally rather than elsewhere.
He also expressed support for the $25 million going “into the dirt” to build necessary infrastructure on the 714-acre site north of Bar Nunn so that the location attracts some kind of manufacturing — whether Radiant or another future enterprise.
The project still faces significant challenges, including potential changes to state laws governing nuclear waste storage.
Allemand said he intends to oppose such changes and may seek to defund the Wyoming Business Council entirely.
The commission approved the resolution with a modification that specified the grant amount as “not to exceed $25 million.”
Commissioners stated that they would continue to evaluate the project as more information became available and would review any future zoning or permit applications.
Broader Context
The vote on Tuesday came just days after a weekend Radiant town hall in Bar Nunn, which highlighted community divisions over the project.
Ray Wert, Radiant’s vice president of communications, stated that the company plans to conduct a comprehensive opinion poll to gauge local support.
The survey should give us “a more scientific understanding of exactly where people’s sentiment is, than putting our finger up in the air and making a proclamation,” according to Wert.
Despite acknowledging that there is opposition, Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer believes the project will benefit the community.
“I think it would be a good thing for the town. I do,” Boyer said. “There are some who are for, there are some who are against, and some, they don’t even know. It’s kind of a lot of different camps here.”
The public will have another opportunity to voice opinions at theLegislature’s next Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee hearing set for July 29-30 in Casper.
