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# Governors Ink Regional Pact to Expand Nuclear Energy in the West
- URL: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/governors-ink-regional-pact-to-expand-nuclear-energy-in-the-west/
- Published: 2025-05-07T19:38:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-11T05:53:48.000Z
- Description: Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming sign joint agreement to coordinate energy development.
- Author: Jericho Casper
- Tags: Energy, #with-siderail, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Mark Gordon, Spencer Cox, Bill Gates, BRAD LITTLE, NeutronBytes, Holtec International, Terrestrial Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, Project Pele

May 7, 2025 – As power demands surge in the West, three Republican governors signed an agreement last week to pursue building a regional “energy corridor” anchored by advanced nuclear technology.

The memorandum of understanding, signed by Wyoming Governor **Mark Gordon**, Utah Governor **Spencer Cox**, and Idaho Governor **Brad Little** [on April 29](https://governor.wyo.gov/news-releases/governor-gordon-joins-governors-cox-and-little-to-ink-tri-state-energy-mou?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) in Draper, Utah, outlines a shared commitment to accelerate deployment of small modular and advanced nuclear reactors, coordinate electric grid infrastructure, and strengthen workforce development across state lines.

According to the agreement, the three states – linked by geography, abundant natural resources, and a shared legacy of energy production – seek to align policies that support innovation, attract private investment, and increase access to “reliable, affordable” zero-carbon energy.

The agreement comes as a wave of energy-intensive data center projects sweeps across Utah, driven by growing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence. The state is home to at least 39 data centers, with [more on the way](https://www.sltrib.com/news/business/2025/03/12/utah-data-center-recieves-2/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com). 

“A big chunk of Utah’s population is located along a booming high technology corridor that runs north to south along the western slopes of the Wasatch mountains,” [*NeutronBytes* reports](https://neutronbytes.com/2025/05/02/rocky-mountain-states-open-to-nuclear-energy/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com). “Demand for electricity to power its continued growth is one of the factors driving Utah’s interest in SMRs \[small modular reactors\].”

Utah has also emerged as a hub of nuclear activity. Holtec International and Terrestrial Energy have signed separate MOUs to develop and potentially deploy SMR designs in the state, part of a long-term strategy to diversify energy supplies.

Separately, Utah leaders and Idaho National Laboratory signed a second MOU this week, establishing a formal partnership focused on advanced energy research, workforce training, and deployment of nuclear technologies.

In Idaho, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) plays a critical role in regional outreach by offering access to nuclear R&D infrastructure and technical expertise. 

Several companies – including Oklo, Aalo, and the Department of Defense’s Project Pele – were developing advanced micro-reactor prototypes at the lab, with additional designs slated for testing at INL facilities. 

Meanwhile, in Wyoming, construction is underway on a 345-megawatt nuclear power plant in the town of Kemmerer. Developed by TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates, the project aims to replace a retiring coal plant and serve as a blueprint for building similar advanced reactors across the West.