Grand Junction Blog

The focus of this second in a series of energy articles is the nuclear potential of so-called Energy Alley along Interstate 70 in western Colorado and eastern Utah. The uranium potential is focused under the western Book Cliffs range north of I-70, principally in Utah. A brief look at a map will reveal that Grand Junction, Colorado is easily the biggest city anywhere near the area.

For the fourth time since the 1960′s a nuclear-power plant in the shadow of the Book Cliffs overlooking the Green River valley is being proposed. Although there is significant uranium deposits north and east of the proposed site, the real reason for the proposal is the energy demands of the Utah population. Utah must import electricity to meet the needs of this fast growing area of the US. Arizona, Nevada and California also are hunting for electricity for their populations.

Coal and natural gas plants are denied in the permitting process. The inability to win approval for gas-fired plants boosts the prospects of developing nuclear power in Green River. Green River has an additional advantage in that it sits along one of the national energy corridors established under the auspices of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. Congress ordered officials to designate federal land in 11 western states for energy corridors that would include oil, gas and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission and distribution facilities.

To clear up confusion, there is the Green River that is a tributary of the Colorado River, and there is the little mile long town of Green River, Utah. The nuclear plant, which would sit in the shadow of Blue Castle Peak at the base of the Beckwith Plateau west of Green River, would generate 3,000 megawatts of electricity, or enough electricity for about 1 million homes.

Enercon, as a primary contractor, has been hired to prepare the company’s application for an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As the owner, Blue Castle will begin a yearlong, data-collection process at the 1,000-acre site early next year as it opens its permitting effort. The project also has an agreement with the Page, Ariz., Electric Utility that sets out the utility’s potential role as an owner of the project. The Page, Ariz., utility has declared interest in buying power for its 8,000 customers from the Blue Castle nuclear plant should it be constructed in an industrial park west of Green River.

Blue Castle will pay to transfer 29,600 acre-feet of water from Kane County and 24,000 acre-feet per year from San Juan County, both downstream from Green River. No water would be returned to the river once it’s heated to spin the generator turbines. Of course there will be significant opposition from wildlife protection groups as well as water users in the area.

The problem is, of course, that demand for energy (and energy independance) will trump any opposition. It comes down to priority of choices. Currently, the voices for development greatly out number the voices of doubt and trepidation. For this very rural area, the development means significant financial investment and jobs. Nuclear power is gaining in serious consideration as asfety concerns are addressed, as a realistic solution the the nation’s energy demands.

In addition, developers want to build a 40-acre, solar-voltaic field in the accompanying industrial park. A small refinery will start pumping out fuel from kerogen roasted out of oil shale on the other side of the Green River.
Conductive Composites Co., is gearing up to manufacture a variety of electrically conductive resins, adhesives, coatings, composites and other systems from Green River.

You couldn’t ask for a more picuresque area to live and work.

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