During a second Craig City Council workshop on April 9, Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative’s Matt Solomon continued discussions, and expanded on possibilities, regarding a potential consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Maybell. 

While the Department of Energy has not launched a formal application process, Craig leaders used the session to clarify infrastructure needs while also seeking clarity regarding workforce logistics and long-term planning scenarios should such a facility be proposed in Moffat County.

“The City of Craig is fortunate to have a critically thoughtful and forward-thinking council that is actively engaged in finding economic solutions for the community,” said Solomon in an email to the Craig Press following the meeting. 

The hour-long work session covered a range of considerations including transportation infrastructure, and locally-based education pipelines into the industry. Council members emphasized that any such proposal for a consolidated interm storage facility would need to be met with transparency, clear economic benefits and assurances regarding safety and oversight. 

“This can’t be one public meeting,” said Mayor Chris Nichols. “This has to be several… explaining the whole process from start to beginning, the whole nuclear cycle. What everybody’s fear is (that) they’re just going to be the world’s dumping ground.”

Solomon repeatedly stated that the DOE’s current posture is rooted in “moving at the speed of trust.” 

The agency is expected to open an application portal in the fall for communities interested in pursuing federally funded engagement and educational efforts. If Craig and Moffat County were to submit an expression of interest and be selected, formal engagement could begin in spring 2026.

When Solomon was asked how soon a facility could be located in Maybell, Solomon could not provide a specific answer

“Great question, and something we need to learn from the DOE, who has stated the process will move at the speed of trust,” he said.  

The idea of pairing a CISF with a DOE research lab, or advanced nuclear energy project, also drew interest. 

“Nuclear power, off the top of my head,” said Nichols when Solomon asked what the DOE might do to make a potential project more attractive. “Research facility and the jobs that go with it.”

“(A) lab,” added Council Randy Looper. 

The workshop also discussed the potential alignment of local educational opportunities with a CISF, with both Colorado Northwestern Community College and the local school district being mentioned as possibilities to provide specific, long-term workforce training. 

City officials also discussed how much growth Craig could realistically handle if a DOE facility were to bring in hundreds of new jobs. 

Leaders estimated the city’s infrastructure could support up to 15,000 residents with strategic investment in areas like water, sewer, housing and education. 

“I think we usually have the capacity with infrastructure development to get to 14,000 to 15,000,” said City Manager Peter Brixius. “But once you start hitting certain population thresholds, the regulations change for discharge limits and those kinds of things.”

Nichols added that the city would need help in planning for such a level of population growth.

While Craig has the available infrastructure capacity in some areas to support such growth, potential expansion in others, such as wastewater and sewer, might be needed for a major population increase.

The workshop also discussed the importance of clear public communication and education, with several calls for focus groups, surveys, outreach to neighboring towns and engagement across the state. 

“You need people from the various facilities that are already storing stuff… what type of jobs we got because of it, and how much money we’re getting,” Looper said. 

Looper stated that residents of Craig would benefit from hearing testimonials from other communities that didn’t have any problems with a CISF as well, which would build trust by proving the “government didn’t lie to (them).” 

The recent passage of HB 1040, which was signed by Governor Polis on March 31, has contributed to a positive dialogue during the workshop. 

“The passage of HB 1040 into law shows that we are open to conversation,” said Solomon. “While nuclear, as related to 1040, is a different topic from the discussion of a CISF, it is a parallel ecosystem… and can have some economic overlap.”

Council members closed the session by acknowledging the controversy such a proposal may invite. 

“I don’t want to knock the beehive off the tree if there’s not a snowball chance… this is even coming to the area,” said Nichols. “… It’s worth finding out everything …we can and being educated in the subject in the meantime.”

Solomon emphasized that the DOE has yet to propose a site and the local government remains in a preliminary information-gathering phase. For now, the city is documenting questions and building a base of knowledge. 

“If the education starts though, the community will push the project, not a council,” said Councilor Derek Duran. “That would be how it would get done.”