By McKenzie Romero | Editor
Utah is one step closer to winning a bid from the federal government to develop an operation that can handle all the stages of nuclear fuel’s lifecycle — fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used fuel, and waste disposal.
But with the Beehive State on the list of five finalists seeking to host one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses,” environmental advocates from HEAL Utah worry the project may bring high-level radioactive waste to the state.
In today’s Dispatch we update you on Utah’s nuclear ambitions, a leadership change at the state’s Department of Natural Resources, and how Utah scored a top-state ranking for the fourth year in a row.
“These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance.” — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on the five states being considered to host nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announcing Utah’s application with the U.S. Department of Energy to host a “nuclear lifecycle innovation campus” in a remote area in northwest Tooele County during a news conference there on March 27, 2026. (Photo Courtesy of the Utah Governor’s Office)
By Alixel Cabrera
Utah has campaigned hard for one of the federal government’s nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses, with Gov. Spencer Cox inviting reporters to a remote site in northwest Tooele County in late March to show a portion of the state’s vision to “build the safest, most complete nuclear energy ecosystem in the country.”
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed memorandums of understanding with all five shortlisted states to continue to explore pathways to build the campuses. The proposed projects have the potential to generate about $10 billion in state and local taxes and to create nearly 25,000 jobs, the agency said.
Utah Division of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry speaks during a news conference on the north shore of Utah Lake, announcing a 10,000 acre-foot donation of water to the Great Salt Lake on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)
By Annie Knox
Joel Ferry, commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, is leaving the post after four years. He said in an email to employees that he’s stepping down to focus on his family, their farm and consulting in government affairs.
Gov. Spencer Cox has appointed State Forester Jamie Barnes to succeed Ferry, praising her expertise. If confirmed by the Utah Senate, Barnes will oversee roughly 2,500 employees and a wide range of state agencies, from those handling water rights and energy development to wildfire response, recreation and state parks.
Downtown Salt Lake City is silhouetted as the sun sets over the Great Salt Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
By Katie McKellar
For a fourth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Utah the No. 1 overall state in the nation, citing high performance in multiple categories including economy, fiscal stability and infrastructure. However, Utah ranked low, No. 48, in one category — natural environment — due to air pollution and industrial toxin levels.
The 2026 Best States analysis released Tuesday compared all 50 states on how they serve their citizens across a range of categories. In addition to the areas where Utah stood out, the categories include healthcare, education, opportunity, and crime and corrections.
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