Public cautiously optimistic about BWXT's nuclear fuel fabrication project after presentation

GILLETTE — Over the past couple of months, many questions have come up over the city’s exploration in bringing elements of the nuclear energy industry into Campbell County.

Last week, BWXT announced its plan to build a nuclear fuel fabrication factory near Gillette within the next five years.

Tuesday evening, the curious, the concerned and the excited got a chance to have many of their questions answered.

Following up a number of informational seminars, town halls and public discussions on the potential for bringing the nuclear energy industry into Gillette, BWXT held its own information session Tuesday evening in the Cam-plex Heritage Center, aiming to clear up misconceptions and educate the public on the project.

About 300 residents of Gillette and Campbell County attended the event, as well as many local elected officials, with both the Gillette City Council and the Campbell County Commissioners announcing that they planned to have a quorum at the meeting.

Mayor Shay Lundvall said the city will continue to bring in experts to educate the public, but he appreciated BWXT’s effort to answer some of the big questions themselves and keep the community informed.

“I think it opened a lot of people’s minds of what it is and what it is not,” said Lundvall. “I think it’s provided some clarity for a lot of people.”

Asked for their own thoughts on bringing the facility in following the presentation, many in the audience stated they were in favor of it. 

Some, such as local resident Dale Roth, stated that the event did a good job of clearing up a lot of questions concerning exactly what was on the table. He said what BWXT is proposing is something the community could get behind.

“These guys seem serious that they really want to be here and so, if the community will go along with it, it’s going to probably happen, but there has to be a lot of education for the community, and sometimes that’s very difficult,” Roth said. “The city council and the county commissioners just have to get the population educated on the issue. If the whole community could have (seen) this presentation, I think it would happen.”

Facility would create nuclear fuel, produce no “high-level” waste

Beginning with a 30-minute presentation by BWXT’s Senior Director of Advanced Nuclear Fuels Joshua Parker, the larger portion of the seminar was taken up by a more free-floating social, allowing attendees to ask questions of a number of BWXT staff at information stations set up for the event.

BWXT, following the signing of a three-year cooperation agreement between the company and the City of Gillette in 2024, is proposing to build a 150,000- to 250,000-square foot facility plant east of Gillette in the next five years, creating about 200 construction jobs during the process and approximately 200 full-time jobs at the facility once the plant is up and running in late 2030.

The facility would create TRISO fuel from enriched uranium, made up of a small uranium core coated in layers of carbon material to prevent the release of fission product, even at high temperatures, which would then be transported to nuclear plants in other communities. Parker described the facility as a chemical processing plant “that happens to use uranium.”

Parker said that about 160 of the 200 full-time jobs at the facility would be the plant technicians and operators, requiring only a two-year degree or certification program. He noted that the presence of Gillette College means that the community has the infrastructure to train and fill these positions locally, as well as produce other jobs through construction and transportation efforts.

“We look to the local community and contractors to support that, so it brings an opportunity for new business and growth here in Gillette, and we look to be partners in that,” Parker said.

He added that the leadership of the plant would be relocating to Gillette rather than overseeing operations remotely, with Parker having brought his family to see Gillette earlier this year.

“I’ll just state this right here, it is my job to site this, and that means I’m moving to wherever that is going to go, and the potential is here,” he said.

Parker also touched on the issue of the nuclear waste produced by the facility, a point of major concern by members of the public in recent weeks. He said that the waste produced would be minimal, with no spent nuclear fuel or other high-level waste being created or stored here.

“There’s some different things going around, and there’s other projects in the state, (but) this project sits on the front end of the fuel chain,” Parker said. “This project will not create spent nuclear fuel or high level waste, and we will not store spent nuclear fuel high level waste. Period.”

While not mentioned during the presentation itself, in an earlier sit-down with the News Record the week before, Parker also spoke on the current disposal protocols for low-level waste, such as PPE equipment. Once used up, this equipment and other low-level waste is transported for storage at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility in the state of Washington as part of the Northwest Interstate Compact, of which Wyoming is a signatory.

Public expresses interest in facility, hopes to see representatives proactive in future talks

Following the presentation itself, members of the audience had a chance to speak to BWXT staff who were present to answer questions on general topics concerning the company’s operations and nuclear fuel. Many said they were happy to get a better understanding of what goes on in the modern nuclear supply chain.

“My (intention) was to come and understand the process, and I feel like they did an excellent job in explaining that," said retired teacher Vicki Swenson. “The other thing I was always wondering about is, who is this company, what’s their depth and breadth? I got that answer and was very impressed with their history and the things that they’ve done.”

County Commissioner Jim Ford said he was mainly interested with the public’s own thoughts and views. He noted that over the past few months he has received more and more positive feedback from the community as the perception and understanding of the project has improved.

“My questions at this point are more about what are the concerns of the community,” said Ford. “What are the things that people see as benefits or advantages to diversifying our industrial base in this way?”

Many members of the audience said they would be comfortable with the facility coming to Gillette. Tom Johnson said Gillette’s no stranger to the energy industry, so it seems like a natural fit.

“My question is: How can the politicians and the regulators — and (the word) ‘politicians’ covers a broad swath of people — be proactive in bringing this to pass?” Johnson asked.

Resident Alton Simon said while he was excited by the potential of the project, previous attempts to bring business to Gillette have fallen through due to issues such as housing limitations and a limited workforce.

While Tuesday’s presentation assuaged some of those concerns, Simon echoed Johnson’s concern on the need for local representatives to step up to see this potential project through.

“You’re talking about 200 good-paying jobs, most of them from here, and then some coming in from out of town, but you also have to count on the supply chain jobs and support jobs that are going to come into this town also,” Simon said. “Are the city and the county ready to wheel and deal for some property to build new housing centers? Because that is one of the biggest problems we have trying to bring new companies in here on the sales side. They would like to come here, but housing is limited.”

Parker said that, based on the questions and comments he received following the presentation, the public seems keen to learn more about the project and how Gillette can help move it forward.

“I think we did a good job answering the community’s questions,” Parker said. “Feedback, at least that I’ve gotten so far, has been very positive; people are glad we’re here and glad we’re starting to share… A lot of business owners (are) coming up asking, ‘How can we work together and be a part of this?’ so that’s been very good.”

This story was published on Oct. 3, 2025.