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Valor representative tells Orangeville council company aims to turn reactor on by July 4 and has hired locally
Summary
A Valor public affairs representative told the Orangeville City Council the company expects to start its reactor by July 4 and has hired roughly 80–100 workers, many from nearby communities; council members asked follow-up questions about local hiring and what the company will produce on site.
A company representative said Valor plans to bring a small reactor online by July 4 and is hiring locally, a presentation that drew questions from Orangeville City Council members during public comment on June 11.
Harry Hanson, who identified himself as working in public affairs for Valor, told the council his team has spent the last two weeks at the site and that ‘‘we plan on being successful with the goal, by turning on our reactor by July 4 and we are on track.’’ He estimated Valor has hired "somewhere around between 80 to a 100 people or so," and said many hires are from the surrounding area, including Orangeville and Castledale.
Hanson also described Valor’s plans to manufacture a nuclear fuel, which he identified as “Trisulfuel,” and said the company aims to be vertically integrated — producing its own fuel to reduce dependence on foreign sources. He said a second building planned at the site is not another reactor but will be used to manufacture fuel and other components.
Council members asked about the number of local hires and whether the project would prioritize Orangeville residents. Hanson said he did not have exact counts on hand but would provide details later; he emphasized that many construction and operations hires so far have come from nearby towns.
Council members and staff did not take formal action on Valor’s statements at the meeting. The presentation occurred during the public comment portion of the agenda; city staff and council members said they would follow up with the company for more detailed hiring figures and any permits or local approvals required.
The council did not vote on any Valor-related permits or contracts at the June 11 meeting. Next steps noted in the meeting were for staff to request and share more specific hiring data and for council to monitor any forthcoming permit or land-use items tied to Valor’s work.
