Coffey County commissioners approve resolution supporting TerraPower, Evergy Natrium reactor site interest

Coffey County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a formal resolution and authorize a letter expressing local interest in being considered as a potential site for the TerraPower and Evergy Natrium reactor project.

The board approved "Resolution No. 2020Five-nine60, Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Coffee County, Kansas expressing support for the siting of the TerraPower and Evergy Naturium Reactor project within Coffee County," and authorized the chairman to sign a separate letter of support. The motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Jenny Tappan, who presented the county's draft letter and resolution, said the county had discussed the opportunity with regional partners and drafted a press release in case the board wished to publicize its support. "We also must make sure that we're putting out the information as we want it to be put out to the public," she said.

Commissioners asked only clarifying questions about the draft language and whether the project had an official name; staff said the project name appears in press reports but a final project name had not been provided to the county. The board instructed staff to identify the appropriate TerraPower and Evergy contacts and to circulate the letter and resolution copies for attachment to the county's application materials.

The resolution and letter express county support in principle; they do not bind the county to any agreements or financial commitments. The board did not adopt any additional development agreements or budgetary commitments at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will send the signed letter to the contacts identified by TerraPower/Evergy and post the press release draft to local media channels as requested by staff.