Following Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s 2024 “Operation Gigawatt” and “Built Here” strategy announcement to double power production in the state within ten years and enhancing clean energy policies including support for nuclear power, Holtec International is pleased to report that we have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the State of Utah and Hi Tech Solutions, a leading nuclear services provider based in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate in the deployment of SMR-300s in Utah and the broader Mountain West region. Hi Tech will play a leading role in the project development and workforce training to support the rise of new nuclear in the region.
Holtec, in cooperation with Hi Tech Solutions, is advancing plans to deploy a fleet of SMR-300 reactors across the Mountain West. To accomplish this goal, the companies will work to build a permanent training facility in Utah by 2028 to focus on operations, maintenance and future technologies. The training facility will focus on developing a skilled workforce for both the existing US reactor fleet and next-generation SMR technology through key collaborations with Utah’s Universities, technical colleges, and trade schools.
“This partnership with Holtec and Hi Tech Solutions positions Utah at the forefront of America’s nuclear future, by building a complete ecosystem around SMR technology. We’re not just meeting our state’s growing energy needs—we’re also strengthening national security and powering the next generation of innovation. Reliable nuclear energy will support the AI systems, data centers and critical infrastructure that drive both our economy and our defense. This is the Utah Dream in action—energy independence that keeps America strong and Utah leading the way,” said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams.
“As we thoughtfully explore adding nuclear to Utah’s energy mix, we look forward to developing efforts that support the workforce and investment necessary to realize the goals of Gov. Spencer Cox’s Operation Gigawatt,” said Emy Lesofski, Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development. “The deployment of clean, scalable and reliable energy resources will protect quality of life for all Utahns.”
In addition to training, Holtec International will work to bring our world-class manufacturing prowess to Utah as the preferred destination for a western manufacturing location for our SMR-300 reactors. This goal will help strengthen the US nuclear supply chain by manufacturing and assembling SMR-related components and systems in Utah, generating high quality, long-term employment in the region.
Following on Holtec’s recent Mission 2030 announcement for initial SMR-300 deployment in Michigan, Holtec is finalizing a plan for up to 4 GWs of SMR-300s deployed in the 2030s, primarily focused in Utah and Wyoming and supported by the ongoing testing at the Idaho National Labs. The Palisades site in Michigan where nation’s
first SMR-300s are designated to be commissioned, will serve as the reference plant for the Mountain West buildout as well as our SMR deployment programs in the United Kingdom, India, Ukraine and over a dozen other countries. Team Holtec, consisting of Hyundai E&C (Seoul, Korea) and Mitsubishi Electric (Kobe, Japan) will build the Mountain West plants with able assistance of our regional partner, Hi Tech Solutions.
“We are not just delivering nuclear reactors; we have put together a plan to deliver the entire nuclear ecosystem to Utah and the surrounding region, inclusive of EPC delivery of the plants, manufacturing centers to produce major components, and workforce development tied to the specific delivery needs for the program,” stated Holtec’s President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities, Dr. Rick Springman.
Utah recently passed legislation to support nuclear power development in the State, in addition to new legislation that modernizes Utah’s energy framework by allowing large load energy consumers—those needing 100+ megawatts —to enter into flexible contracts with existing utilities or alternative energy providers. Holtec’s Chief Strategy Officer, Admiral Roegge, noted “The new legislation supports our vision to start the incubation of our SMR-300 program in Utah and expand it into the Mountain West.”
Holtec’s SMR-300 is a Gen 3+ reactor based on proven PWR technology, the most widely deployed technology class in the world, and uses standard nuclear fuel commercially available today. Holtec’s (patented) innovations have advanced the classical PWR technology especially in respect of heightened operational resilience rendering it unconditionally safe and cost- competitive through modularized construction, and creative standardization.
Holtec’s “Bridge to 2030″ plan envisions installation of the Company’s hybrid solar collection technology called HI-THERM HCSP – a reinvention of the concentrated solar plant capitalizing on Holtec’s vast experience in heat exchanger design, innovative engineering, and modular manufacturing. Due to simpler regulatory processes, HI-THERM can be deployed in the near-term to meet growing power demands and serve as a bridge to SMR-300 deployments. HI-THERM HCSP can be configured with a capacity factory of over 60%, removing the intermittency drawback of solar energy generation from photovoltaic plants. In addition, HI-THERM HCSP uses a steam turbine to produce electricity, providing grid stabilization benefits not attenable from photovoltaic systems. Furthermore, all the materials for the HI-THERM HCSP technology can be sourced in the United States for U.S. deployments. We look forward to furthering plans for HI-THERM deployment as part of our energy abundance strategy in the Mountain West.
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