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Residents deliver petition opposing proposed nuclear plant near Brigham City
Summary
At the Nov. 20 council meeting, Alexis Rowley presented a petition signed by 67 residents asking Brigham City to prevent permit approvals for a proposed nuclear power plant, citing seismic risk, water scarcity and unresolved national spent fuel disposal issues; speakers urged exploration of geothermal and hydrogen alternatives.
During the public comment portion of the Nov. 20 Brigham City Council meeting, Alexis Rowley said she represented 67 residents who signed a petition titled "Protect our land and water — prevent permit approval for a nuclear power plant in Brigham City." Rowley said the petitioners oppose a proposed nuclear plant announced earlier that week and urged the council to consider alternatives such as geothermal and hydrogen development.
Rowley cited concerns about locating a nuclear facility in an earthquake‑prone area with limited water supply and urged the city to demand full analysis and transparent permitting. She quoted the U.S. Government Accountability Office on national spent fuel totals and argued there is no permanent U.S. geologic repository for high‑level nuclear waste, noting federal liability payments to utilities for unresolved disposal.
Other residents offered mixed reactions: one speaker said small modular reactors could bring jobs and be safer than older reactors; another urged caution about population and service impacts associated with a large new workforce. Council members thanked petition organizers and asked staff to coordinate factual research and consider a presentation or future agenda item to study populations around existing U.S. nuclear plants.
The council did not take action on the petition at the Nov. 20 meeting but asked staff and petitioners to continue dialogue and to bring research to a future meeting. Rowley requested that the council "prevent permit approval for companies that would build a nuclear power plant next door from our homes and upstream from the Great Salt Lake."
