The aim of this study is to primarily evaluate energy policies of the 50 U.S. states associated with carbon and/or nuclear energy and emerging market or regional diversification potential for Alaska and Wyoming communities in relation to energy, critical minerals mining and related economic development.

Around the world, economies are increasingly putting a price on the emission content of their products and activities. The cost of carbon emissions tied to products and services will impact competitiveness and change the global competitive landscape.

David Shropshire, nuclear energy economist for Idaho National Laboratory, recently presented to the Joint Coeur d’Alene and Columbia Basin sections of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. The presentation entitled “Microreactors Electrify the Future of Mining” addresses the mining industry’s need to find innovative solutions as it moves toward the decarbonization of legacy energy...

This report provides an evaluation of primarily state-level legal, regulatory, economic, and technology implications for microreactor (MR) applications in U.S. markets. The initial focus is on the Alaska and Wyoming energy markets serving location specific energy needs for electricity and heat. A state-by-state evaluation of current carbon/carbon-related policies and nuclear policies is conducted to assess...

The nuclear energy sector is actively developing a new class of very small advanced reactors, called microreactors. This technology has disruptive potential as an alternative to carbon-intensive energy technologies based on its mobility and transportability, resilience, and independence from the grid, as well as its capacity for long refueling intervals and low-carbon emissions.