She confirmed that the state enforces strict resource management requirements for data center developments.
Emery County Commissioner Jordan Leonard voiced community backing, highlighting benefits for the local job base and tax base.
State Senator David Hinkins recalled Emery County’s long history as a primary energy producer for Utah.
Representative Carl Albrecht, who sponsored state legislation enabling nuclear power development, expressed optimism about balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.
“We’re going to save water for you guys up north in the Great Salt Lake and we’re going to build some AI data centers down here in rural Utah that’ll help the economy,” Albrecht said.
The Department of Energy noted that Valar Atomics is the first startup to generate electricity, while two other firms, Deployable Energy and Antares Nuclear, have achieved reactor criticality.
>>> Spain Advances to World Cup Round of 16 After Defeating Austria
Before Valar Atomics can advance to commercial power distribution, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must grant a federal operating license, with NRC Chairman Ho Nieh aiming to shorten review timelines to under 18 months.
