The Blue Castle project: a feasibility study of the proposed nuclear power plant in Emery County, Utah along the Green River

With an increasing population in Utah, specifically in the Salt Lake Valley, the demand for energy is rapidly growing each year. Currently, Utah's electric grid is largely produced by burning coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels. In the past, supplying Utahns with electricity from these forms has been sufficient, but with the predicted rise in population, there is a need for more efficient production methods. The established energy infrastructure in Utah is not only harmful towards the environment, but does not have the capacity to keep up with the demand in the upcoming years. For those reasons, a safe, more secure, and reliable form of power will have to be explored. Blue Castle Holdings Incorporated, an energy infrastructure development company has proposed the construction of a nuclear power plant. The facility, based around a reactor design by Westinghouse Electric Company, will be built in Emery County, Utah near the Green River. The reactor will be fueled by a uranium core and cooled by water obtained from the river. The proposed facility has the potential to double Utah's current electricity production. The second part of the chapter will examine the financial implications of the prospective power plant. Initial planning and licensing will be funded by Blue Castle Holdings. This includes; water rights, property title, facility design, and protocol. Their intention is to sell these components to a prospective buyer who will construct, operate, and maintain the power plant. The building costs of the facility will be provided by major investors, taxpayers and energy subsides provided by the government. After completion, revenue from the nuclear plant will benefit Utah by stimulating the local economy, improving environmental quality, and exporting excess energy to neighboring states.