A Wake Up Call for Wyoming: Radiant Nuclear Heads for Tennessee

After months of debate, Radiant Nuclear has officially abandoned its plans to build a nuclear micro-reactor facility near Bar Nunn, opting for Oak Ridge, Tennessee instead. In a public letter, Radiant’s leadership praised Tennessee’s “business-friendly environment” and “nuclear IQ.” Their combination of support, regulatory alignment, and readiness allowed the company to move forward quickly, and out of Wyoming.

WY It Matters: Radiant’s withdrawal is more than a lost project, it’s a wake-up call for Wyoming’s approach to innovation and regulation. The decision highlights a growing concern among businesses: that regulatory uncertainty and political infighting can cost Wyoming the very industries that could secure its economic future. Advanced energy technology represents a major opportunity for economic diversification, manufacturing growth, and national energy leadership.

And, this isn’t just about one company. It’s about millions of dollars in lost economic opportunity, over 200 high-paying jobs, and the message it sends to the world about whether Wyoming is truly open for business.

Your Wyoming Chamber of Commerce is actively working to address these challenges head-on, advocating for regulatory and permitting reform that gives businesses clarity, confidence, and the ability to move quickly when opportunity knocks. Wyoming cannot afford to lose future investments because of red tape or political uncertainty. That means building a system where businesses know what to expect, innovation is encouraged rather than stalled, and Wyoming’s legacy of energy leadership continues to drive the next generation of industry.