Editor鈥檚 note: As northwest Colorado loses coal jobs and dollars, a small group is raising the possibility of nuclear waste storage as a replacement. In the second installment of our series 鈥楾oxic waste, or economic fuel?鈥� KUNC鈥檚 Scott Franz traveled west of Steamboat Springs, to coal country, where he found mixed feelings about the region鈥檚 economic future.
The northwest Colorado ranching community of Hayden is used to big sales pitches.
It鈥檚 been approached twice in the past by groups trying to sell them casinos to solve their financial woes.
Now, residents in this small town 25 miles west of Steamboat Springs on the Yampa River are hearing about another big idea: importing toxic nuclear waste and creating the nation鈥檚 first centralized storage facility somewhere in the state鈥檚 northwest corner.
At this point, the idea is being floated in political circles, with lots of meetings and decisions pending. But the project is already raising eyebrows at the Wild Goose, a cozy coffee shop in the center of Hayden.
鈥淥bviously lots of concerns with transporting nuclear waste by rail,鈥漵aid Patrick Delaney, who owns the coffee shop with his wife, Tammie, in November.
鈥淓specially when, to me, one of the more exciting discussions is commuter rail in our valley,鈥� Tammie Delaney continued.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is . Gov. Jared Polis has called it a priority that could help with the transition away from coal.
The Delaneys worry the two projects, both being pitched to boost the economy, could not happily or safely coexist. Tammie Delaney said the nuclear waste idea doesn鈥檛 fit with her town鈥檚 core values.
鈥淎nd to me, it's clean air, clean water,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ommunities that know each other, that we know how to grow and raise our own food, and we know how to process it. We know how to create amazing baked goods."
Hayden is losing coal jobs and its power plant is shutting down.
When KUNC came to this same coffee shop and talked to the Delaneys about life after coal four years ago, Tammie Delaney had lots of ideas for economic development, including reviving vintage auto races in the area.
Nuclear waste was not on her list.
But in recent months a regional economic development group called the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado has accepted federal dollars and kicked off county level conversations about a possible nuclear storage facility.
And while Hayden's leaders have been immediately skeptical and opposed to the prospect, some of its neighbors, including Moffat County, want to continue exploring it.
Hayden鈥檚 leaders in Routt County haven鈥檛 been at the table. They actually quit the group floating the idea three years ago, citing differences over energy policy, among other issues.
It's poised to be a point of friction if the waste proposal advances.
鈥楴o political will鈥�
Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond is not on board with the nuclear waste storage talks.
鈥淭here is no political will in Routt County for a nuclear storage facility,鈥� he said in November at Hayden鈥檚 newly opened community center.
He points to this vibrant facility, called the Hayden Center, as one of many signs the town can weather the coal transition without doing something like importing toxic waste.
On a Wednesday night in November, seniors spin classes, open court basketball practices and a community hearing on a business development were all happening simultaneously at this facility.
are another reason to avoid the idea of importing radioactive material.
鈥淚 mean, we see what can happen with a crude oil train,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y God, what are we going to do with a nuclear waste accident?鈥�
Redmond also points to new developments outside,, as signs Hayden is doing just fine.
鈥淚f I look around at all the communities that are going through this transition, I think Hayden's doing the best,鈥� he said.
But Hayden can afford to be more selective about its economic future than its neighbors eyeing nuclear waste.
Here in Routt County, there鈥檚 a strong tourism industry and diverse economy centered in Steamboat Springs.
Over in neighboring Moffat County, that number was almost 50 percent when the mines started closing
鈥楽o much, so fast鈥�
There鈥檚 a sense of urgency as Sasha Nelson drives around the outskirts of Craig on a November afternoon to show off several projects designed to help this city weather a major economic transition away from its coal mines and power plants.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to do so much so fast,鈥� Nelson, a member of northwest Colorado鈥檚 Economic Recovery Corp., said.
Nelson said there are more than two dozen of the projects underway, ranging from a new affordable housing development in downtown Craig to a commercial solar array on the outskirts of the city.
When they鈥檙e all done, Nelson said they will 鈥渉ave 400 to 500 jobs replaced, and over $2 billion鈥� of capital invested into the region.
One of the projects already completed is a boat ramp
Project leader Melanie Kilpatrick said it鈥檚 designed to attract hundreds of tourists.
鈥淥thers may spend time tubing (here) in lower season, others may come find a nice fishing hole,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any, especially here in Moffat County, kind of want that wide open space and connection to nature.鈥�
But how far will these projects go in replacing the coal revenue?
As Nelson continues the tour of the projects, she says 鈥渘ot enough to replace the 2,800 jobs鈥� that were projected to be in danger in the region when the mine and power plant closures were first announced in 2020.
And that鈥檚 where nuclear waste storage comes back in. Nelson has heard about the idea. But staring through the windshield of her SUV at the vast mesas and fields of sagebrush, she said she doesn鈥檛 want this region to become 鈥渁 dumping ground.鈥�
鈥淚t would break my heart, if, because of our remoteness, because of the space that we still have available, that that becomes a place where any project just ends, where we're, you know, a waste disposal area,鈥� she said.
But she said the talks are necessary for long-term economic development.
Nelson is focusing on what the region can do immediately to shore up the economy.
The federal government says even if northwest Colorado puts in a bid for a nuclear waste storage facility, it would likely be a decade before it鈥檚 built.
Moffat County has hosted meetings about the idea of importing nuclear waste. And a report the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado wrote summarizing those meetings said there was no notable "fear" to continuing them in the region.
Political action on the idea could come soon.
More power
State Senator Dylan Roberts represents Routt and Moffat counties at the statehouse. He鈥檚 interested in a waste storage facility, saying it could eventually help bring in nuclear power and research facilities.
鈥淚 have been a strong supporter for things like the boat ramp and the affordable housing development in Craig, which are all going to help diversify their economy and keep people in the community, but we do need to recognize that a big part of their tax base is energy development, and it should continue to be that way,鈥� he said.
Roberts said landing a waste storage facility would likely lead to a nuclear energy production facility as well.
"I would never want Craig or Moffat County or Rio Blanco County or the region as a whole to be perceived as just the place where nuclear waste goes," he said. "But I think it could still be a very viable place for that, given the economic benefits of putting in a facility like that. I don't think that would be the only thing. I think if they decided to invest in that, that would also lead to other positive impacts for the community."
In next Tuesday鈥檚 final installment of KUNC鈥檚 new series, 鈥榯oxic waste or economic fuel?鈥�, we dig into the risks and challenges of storing radioactive material.
