Wyoming legislative committee amends Protection of Nuclear Reactors bill to include Radiant

CASPER (WNE) — Members of the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday decided to sponsor an amended Protection of Nuclear Reactors bill to include Radiant Nuclear. 

The committee met at the Thyra Thompson State Office Building Tuesday and took public comment on the matter. 

Initially only pertaining to “commercial nuclear generating stations,” Protection of Nuclear Reactors outlines the use of force to defend nuclear facilities, specifies penalties for trespassing and outlines policies for detaining people with armed nuclear facility security guards. 

The bill also specifies the scenarios, in which use of deadly force by armed nuclear security guards is acceptable. 

During the public comment period Tuesday, three Wyoming residents expressed a desire to see the bill’s wording modified. They proposed expanding the bill to include Radiant Nuclear’s manufacturing and waste storage facilities. 

Radiant plans to manufacture nuclear reactors and store nuclear waste at its facility in Bar Nunn but currently has no plans to operate nuclear reactors. 

After several amendments proposed by state Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, and other legislators, Protection of Nuclear Reactors was sponsored by the committee with the wording changed to apply to all commercial nuclear facilities that are licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and required to have a security plan.

This story was published on July 31, 2025.