San Miguel County commissioners approve initial letter supporting regional exploration of a nuclear life‑cycle innovation campus

San Miguel County commissioners voted unanimously on March 25 to send a letter of initial support for a regional response to the Department of Energy’s request for information on creating a nuclear life‑cycle innovation campus. The letter — drafted collaboratively with Montrose and Ouray counties — expresses interest in participating in exploratory conversations if the federal government proceeds with the initiative.

What the letter is: Commissioners stressed the letter is an exploratory, informational gesture and not a commitment to host any facility. The draft says the region would like a seat at the table to explore options ranging from nuclear generation to handling depleted uranium and research into lifecycle issues. Commissioners instructed staff to make non‑substantive editorial edits and to send the finalized letter by the first week of April.

Community and process concerns: Several commissioners asked that the letter include language stressing responsible development practices — community engagement, transparency, and rigorous evaluation — and that any future steps be contingent on gubernatorial support. Commissioners also discussed sharing the letter with local mining companies (for example, the Colorado Mining Association and local producers) to keep industry stakeholders informed.

Vote and timing: The board approved the letter and agreed to complete edits by Friday noon so staff could submit it before an early April informal deadline. Commissioners requested the county CC the governor’s office to signal regional interest.

What this does not do: The motion does not commit San Miguel County to any site selection or project obligations, and the county emphasized the importance of future community engagement and state executive support before any binding steps.