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Valar Atomics briefs Ferron on small modular reactor project, says it employs 120 people
Summary
A Valar Atomics representative described a small modular reactor being tested near Orangeville and said the company 'actively employ[s] 120 people,' with 15–20 full-time staff at the site and additional construction and support contractors working locally.
Jessee Housekeeper, a representative of Valar Atomics, gave Ferron City residents and council an update on the company's small modular reactor project near Orangeville during the April 15 meeting.
Housekeeper described the reactor as an 8-by-8-by-20 unit cooled with helium, surrounded by concrete and rubber at the test site, and said testing is conducted at "worst-case scenario" conditions to evaluate safety and improvement opportunities. He showed videos of site preparation and transport and said the site has required substantial concrete and material movement.
When asked about local jobs, Housekeeper said, "We actively employ 120 people. A lot of those are NOT living in Utah. We have 15-20 full-time employees at the site. We also have construction workers and electricians." He added that Valar provides three meals a day to employees on site and uses local contractors for concrete and other services, citing more than 5,000 cubic yards of concrete poured and over 40,000 cubic yards of material moved.
Housekeeper emphasized the company does not intend to replace existing power plants and framed the project as a technical demonstration and local economic activity. The presentation was informational; the council did not take formal action on the project at the meeting.
