Regulatory hurdle blocks nuclear factory as Radiant Industries rejects Wyoming for Tennessee

CASPER, Wyo. — Radiant Industries, a company pioneering mass-produced portable nuclear generators, has rejected Natrona County as the site for its first advanced manufacturing factory, citing regulatory uncertainty regarding the temporary storage of used fuel as the deciding factor.

The company will instead build its factory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The decision comes after months of open dialogue with state and local officials, as well as community members in and around Bar Nunn. The company had planned to build the facility just north of Bar Nunn. Radiant officials had previously said that Natrona County was supportive of the investment.

Radiant’s mission is to build portable nuclear generators to unlock reliable power for customers, including U.S. troops at remote bases. The company’s plan involved building the generators in Wyoming using Wyoming-mined uranium, sending them to customers and then bringing them back to the factory for refueling.

The core issue was the temporary storage of used fuel. Radiant was only seeking to safely and temporarily store used fuel from Wyoming-built reactors returned from deployment in above-ground containers at the factory.

However, Wyoming law allows spent fuel to be stored only at operating reactor sites. The State Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee met in July to discuss adding spent fuel storage for nuclear manufacturers, but ultimately tabled any decision. The board has not yet met again to further discuss the issue.

Further complicating the situation, Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus, which controls the majority in the Legislature, has taken a no nuclear waste stance for the state, signaling it would not support making another exception to the law.

Radiant said since the law does not accommodate its model, it needed to find a turnkey location where it could be quickly operational to meet customer demand.

Radiant announced on Monday, Oct. 13 that it will build its first factory, named R-50, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on a historic Manhattan Project site.

Company officials cited Tennessee’s strong workforce, its rich nuclear heritage and the public’s “second-to-none nuclear IQ” as key reasons for the selection. The state’s business-friendly environment gave the company the immediate regulatory certainty needed to move fast, officials said.

The new factory, which begins construction in early 2026, is planned to deliver Radiant’s first mass-produced Kaleidos microreactor by 2028 and eventually scale up production to 50 reactors per year.

Radiant executives thanked Wyoming, Natrona County, Advance Casper and community members for their thoughtful dialogue. Senior Director of Operations Matt Wilson said he and his wife had planned to move their young family to Natrona County.

Wyoming was initially a top fit for the factory due to its status as an energy state with an experienced workforce, a strong industrial base and a legacy of energy innovation.

The company encouraged local officials to “keep fighting for business growth” so youth will have meaningful jobs that keep them in the state.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Correction, Oct. 13, 2025: Matt Wilson is the Senior Director of Operations. His title is corrected.

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