A renewed effort to develop a nuclear power plant north of Green River is moving forward with new technology and partners, even as the Bureau of Land Management opens a 30-day window for public input on 44 oil and gas parcels in several Utah counties.
BLM Oil and Gas Leasing
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced Monday that it has opened a 30-day public scoping period to gather input on 44 oil and gas parcels. These parcels, totaling 74,664 acres, are being considered for inclusion in a December 2026 lease sale.
The parcels under review are located across Uintah, Carbon, Grand, and San Juan counties. The scoping period is scheduled to conclude on July 16, 2026, according to BasinNow reporting.
New Nuclear Power Plant Proposal
In a separate energy development move, a partnership between Blue Castle Holdings and Fulcrum Point Holdings is working to revive a nuclear power plant proposal north of Green River. The revised plan utilizes small modular reactor technology, specifically the Holcium International SMR-300, rather than the larger reactors proposed nearly two decades ago.
Blue Castle Holdings CEO Aaron Hilton stated that the shift toward smaller reactors could reduce costs and risks associated with previous much larger designs. While project representatives believe the facility could begin operating in the early 2030s, the project still faces significant hurdles, including the need for Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing, secured financing, and identified electricity customers.
Green River Project Details
The Green River proposal covers approximately 1,500 acres. Portions of the site are owned by Blue Castle, while other areas are managed through development agreements with Emery County and state trust lands.
Green River City Manager Edward Bennett noted that advances in technology and growing concerns regarding grid reliability make the current proposal appear more credible than past iterations. However, Bennett also expressed "measured realism," noting that the project still faces significant regulatory, technical, and financial steps.
Municipal Budget and Rate Updates
Several Utah municipalities are preparing for upcoming public hearings and administrative changes. The Santa Clara City Council has scheduled a regular meeting for June 24, 2026, which will include public hearings regarding a water rate increase and amendments to the FY2025-2026 budget.
Riverton Impact Fee Amendments
In Riverton, the city recently issued a notice of intent on June 18, 2026, to amend the Impact Fee Facilities Plan (IFFP) and the Impact Fee Analysis (IFA).
Additional Local Government News
Other local government updates include:
In Hildale, recent city documents show several officials have filed Conflicts of Interest (COI) forms, including Darlene Stubbs and Jvar Dutson, and the 2026 approved budget has been made available.
In Levan, the town recently announced the availability of its 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report and introduced the TextMyGov announcement system to residents.
Cache County continues to manage various administrative matters, including a recent press release from April 2026 regarding the consideration of a data center moratorium by the County Council.
