WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Could the state of Kansas start expanding on nuclear energy? 12 News spoke with one of the cities looking to bring a nuclear plant to the Sunflower State.
Three counties have already expressed interest in hosting nuclear plant projects. In Reno County, Hutchinson believes it has a strong chance.
“Hutchinson and Reno County are really positioning themselves to be ready for this kind of development in the future,” said Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Debra Teufel.
TerraPower Co-founded by Bill Gates, and Deep Fission are two companies trying to bring nuclear energy to the state.
Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas said this is a unique opportunity for the city, so he put the city’s name in the running.
“How can we get ourselves into this arena? We have a new energy plant coming already and, what can we do to position ourselves to build off from that momentum?” Villegas said.
Lyon and Coffey counties also showed interest in hosting the nuclear plant projects. Villegas and Teufel said for Hutchinson, this would be an economic boost.
“As you look at these projects, they bring a good number of construction jobs, and as well, any economic development that comes along with them, and that is one of the things we are ready for,” Teufel said.
The Hutchinson community is already providing feedback, with safety among the expressed concerns.
“If the analysis would show that this could impact the water or the salt mines could have some negative adverse effect or whatever the case may be then certainly they will not like to come to us, and we would not want that either,” Villegas said.
City leaders believe the area’s infrastructure also makes Reno County and Hutchinson an ideal host for a nuclear power plant.
“I will encourage any industry that is looking for a location to really give us a consideration, especially from the talent perspective. We really are ready and primed for development,” Teufel said.
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