Place-Based Industrial History: A Research and Practice Brief for Engaging Communities in Advanced Nuclear Energy Facility Siting
Righetti, Tara Budowle, Rachael Duba, Alyssa W. Edwards, Colton Hughes, Montgomery Vigil, Elijah Reese, Dayton Welch, Christopher
Righetti, Tara
Budowle, Rachael
Duba, Alyssa W.
Edwards, Colton
Hughes, Montgomery
Vigil, Elijah
Reese, Dayton
Welch, Christopher
Abstract
In June 2021, the private company TerraPower, in partnership with electric utility PacifiCorp and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) via its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), announced plans to site its Natrium advanced nuclear reactor near the retiring Naughton coal-fired power plant in Kemmerer, located in southwest Wyoming. This project marks the first commercial advanced nuclear energy facility to begin construction in the United States. This brief summarizes the Historical Energy and Industrial Analysis chapter “Informing Energy Facility Siting through Place-Based Industrial Histories: A Case Study of Kemmerer, Wyoming.” A place-based industrial history focuses on the spatial and temporal patterns of multiple industrial activities in a specific place or community and catalogs the relationships that exist between that place, its people, and a set of economic activities. In this brief, we first introduce the concept of an industrial history as a research process and product. We then apply this process as a case study of Kemmerer, Wyoming. Ultimately, we argue that industrial histories can help support environmental justice analyses, broadly, and informed community engagement, specifically, for advanced nuclear energy facility siting and development.
Description
Date
2025-07-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Wyoming Libraries
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Engaging Communities in Nuclear Siting,advanced nuclear energy,community engagement,nuclear facility siting,natrium reactor,industrial history