Setting the Record Straight for Gillette’s Energy Future

Mayor Shay Lundvall is committed to diversifying our economy while protecting our way of life. There has been a lot of talk about the BWXT project—it’s time to separate political rhetoric from the facts.

THE FACT: This facility creates new fuel; it does not store or dispose of old waste.

• Front-End Production: This is a fuel fabrication facility. It takes uranium and turns it into high-tech fuel "poppy seeds" (TRISO) for advanced reactors.
• No Spent Fuel: The facility is not licensed to store high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel. Period.
• Lundvall’s Stance: Mayor Lundvall and the City Council have been firmly on the record: We support energy innovation, but we oppose high-level nuclear waste storage in Campbell County.

THE FACT: Confidentiality is a standard part of bringing major industry to Wyoming.

• Business Strategy: Like any $400M+ manufacturing deal, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) were used during early stages to protect proprietary business data from global competitors.
• Full Transparency: Once the project was viable, Mayor Lundvall moved it into the public eye, hosting open informational town halls at the CAM-PLEX to answer every resident’s question.

THE FACT: TRISO is "the most robust nuclear fuel on Earth."

• Indestructible Design: The fuel particles are coated in ceramic layers that withstand extreme heat and corrosion, acting as their own containment system.
• Zero Emissions Goal: Similar BWXT facilities operate as near-zero emissions sites, with public radiation exposure levels often measured at 0 mSv—lower than the natural background radiation you get from the Wyoming sun.

THE FACT: This project saves our energy legacy by adding a new "leg" to the stool.

• Job Transition: According to the Department of Energy, 67% of coal plant jobs can transition to advanced nuclear roles with minimal training.
• High Wages: We’re talking about 200+ direct jobs with average salaries exceeding $100,000.
• Wyoming First: This facility allows us to process Wyoming-mined uranium right here, keeping the value and the tax dollars in Campbell County instead of shipping them away.

• $400M+: Private capital BWXT is investing in our community.
• $106M: Estimated local contractor activity during construction.
• 70 Years: BWXT’s track record of safely powering the U.S. Navy.

"Gillette has always powered this nation. We aren't moving away from our roots; we are expanding our legacy to ensure our kids can stay here, work here, and thrive here." — Mayor Shay Lundvall