The US state governors of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen regional collaboration on energy policy, infrastructure development, and nuclear energy innovation.

The agreement was signed at the Built Here: Nuclear Energy Summit held in Draper (Utah), hosted by Utah Governor Spencer Cox. It establishes a cooperative framework to align energy-related efforts across the three states. It focuses on advancing energy resilience, coordinating infrastructure, advocating for commonsense federal policies, and accelerating the development of reliable, affordable nuclear energy.

“The West will lead the next chapter of energy abundance and American prosperity,” said Governor Cox. “Today, we brought together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to chart the course for nuclear energy. Our new compact strengthens our shared commitment to aggressively pursue more affordable, reliable energy across state lines.”

Under the MOU, the three states will collaborate in key areas, including:

  • Aligning energy policies to support innovation and private investment;
  • Coordinating the development of critical energy infrastructure;
  • Jointly navigating regulatory and environmental challenges;
  • Advocating for federal support of regional energy priorities;
  • Enhancing energy resilience and grid reliability;
  • Expanding workforce development efforts to support the growing energy sector; and
  • Ensuring continued delivery of affordable energy to residents.

The previous day Utah officials and the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) signed a MOU establishing a “formal, long-term collaboration on advanced energy research, workforce development and technology deployment – particularly on nuclear innovation”, according to the governor’s office.

“This partnership will accelerate Utah’s efforts to become the nation’s nuclear hub,” Governor Cox said in a prepared statement. INL Director John Wagner said the partnership “establishes a cooperative framework for scientific, technological and workforce development to help Utah realise an abundant, secure, resilient and competitive energy future”.

The MOU, according to the governor’s office, creates a “structural, interdisciplinary alliance” between Utah and INL. It envisions Utah establishing a new institute called the Advanced Nuclear Energy Institute as a “key coordinating hub” between INL, Utah’s system of higher education, the Utah Office of Energy Development, and the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab.

Beyond academic research, the focus is on applied innovation—ensuring resources are used effectively to develop commercially viable, scalable technologies. This approach will accelerate the deployment of real-world energy solutions and help build a broader, more robust nuclear energy ecosystem in Utah and the surrounding region.

INL said the partnership will focus on key priority areas, including advanced nuclear, infrastructure resilience, engineering and materials science and data science applications for energy development. Utah and INL will work together to:

  • Accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies;
  • Enhance scientific collaboration and research in critical energy sectors;
  • Strengthen cybersecurity and physical security for energy infrastructure; and
  • Build the workforce needed to meet the demands of tomorrow’s energy economy.

Utah also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Holtec International and nuclear services provider Hi Tech Solutions to collaborate in the deployment of SMR-300s in Utah and the broader Mountain West region. Hi Tech will play a leading role in the project development and workforce training to support new nuclear in the region.

The companies will work to build a permanent training facility in Utah by 2028 to focus on operations, maintenance and future technologies. The training facility will focus on developing a skilled workforce for both the existing US reactor fleet and next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) technology through key collaborations with Utah’s Universities, technical colleges, and trade schools.

“This partnership with Holtec and Hi Tech Solutions positions Utah at the forefront of America’s nuclear future, by building a complete ecosystem around SMR technology, said Utah Senate President J Stuart Adams. “We’re not just meeting our state’s growing energy needs – we’re also strengthening national security and powering the next generation of innovation. Reliable nuclear energy will support the AI systems, data centres and critical infrastructure that drive both our economy and our defence.”

Emy Lesofski, Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, noted: “As we thoughtfully explore adding nuclear to Utah’s energy mix, we look forward to developing efforts that support the workforce and investment necessary to realise the goals of Governor Spencer Cox’s Operation Gigawatt.”

Holtec International said that, in addition to training, it will work to bring world-class manufacturing prowess to Utah as the preferred destination for a western manufacturing location for our SMR-300 reactors. “This goal will help strengthen the US nuclear supply chain by manufacturing and assembling SMR-related components and systems in Utah, generating high quality, long-term employment in the region.”

Holtec added that the Palisades site in Michigan where the first SMR-300s are designated to be commissioned, will serve as the reference plant for the Mountain West buildout as well as its SMR deployment programmes in the UK, India, Ukraine and other countries. “Team Holtec, consisting of Hyundai E&C (Seoul, Korea) and Mitsubishi Electric (Kobe, Japan) will build the Mountain West plants with able assistance of our regional partner, Hi Tech Solutions.”

Holtec’s President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities, Dr Rick Springman, said: “We are not just delivering nuclear reactors; we have put together a plan to deliver the entire nuclear ecosystem to Utah and the surrounding region, inclusive of EPC delivery of the plants, manufacturing centres to produce major components, and workforce development tied to the specific delivery needs for the programme.”

Utah recently passed legislation to support nuclear power development in the state, in addition to new legislation that modernises Utah’s energy framework by allowing large load energy consumers to enter into flexible contracts with existing utilities or alternative energy providers. Holtec’s Chief Strategy Officer, Admiral Roegge, noted “The new legislation supports our vision to start the incubation of our SMR-300 programme in Utah and expand it into the Mountain West.”

Holtec’s announcement came days after EnergySolutions announced a partnership with the Intermountain Power Agency and the state of Utah to explore the potential development of SMRs for baseload power at the Intermountain Power Project site near Delta, Utah. A project between NuScale Power Corporation and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) – a political subdivision of the State of Utah – to build a SMR power plant at a site near Idaho Falls was cancelled in late 2023.