By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
The nuclear energy industry continues to be a point of focus for residents across the Castle Country.
Following Sunday’s arrival of Valar Atomics Ward250 reactor to the Beehive State, the Emery County Commission approved a letter of support for Valar during their Feb. 17 meeting.
Max Ukropina from Valar Atomics addressed the commission, expressing the company’s excitement about the arrival of the reactor and the support it has received in Emery County. “We’ve been here a short time, but we feel really loved and wanted by the community. We’ve been able to hire a number of folks from here, as well as several contractors, and that is going to continue.”
Urkopina turned his attention to the arrival of the reactor, speaking on the importance of it arriving by air: “We’ve been working on this project in secret for about seven months. We thought it was a better way to prove the capability of our rapid deployable reactor, so the military can literally point power wherever we need for operating a base, a war zone or humanitarian mission.”
“We’re very proud of the role Emery County has had in providing baseload electricity for so many years and recognize the contribution that it has made,” said Commissioner Dennis Worwood. “We view Valar not as a competitor, but a way to broaden and expand the energy portfolio of Emery County.”
Commissioner Keven Jensen echoed this sentiment,” There’s actual potential of keeping coal going and making them a mission. There are so many theories and applications when this is all said and done. It’s astounding.”
Jensen also spoke highly of the company’s integration into the community,” With Valar and all the communication, visiting with them. You can have amazing technology and have really crummy people that don’t have our same values. And in visiting with several people from Valar, I believe the vision and values really do line up with our area. I’m convinced of it.”
In a 3-0 vote, the commission moved forward with a plan to draft a letter of support to be approved by legal counsel before being sent to Valar.