Kemmerer is distant even by Wyoming requirements — a 50-mile detour off Interstate 80.

Its elevation is definitely larger than its inhabitants and it attracts vacationers who cease in to hunt for native fossils. But one of the best jobs come from completely different sorts of fossils — fossil fuels. A coal mine and pure fuel wells energy three electrical energy vegetation and make use of upwards of 450 individuals. But as fossil gas use dies out throughout the U.S., Kemmerer sees good instances forward and will develop into one of many world’s most well-known cities, due to one of many world’s wealthiest males.

Bill Gates and his 10-year-old power firm TerraPower are planning their first cutting-edge nuclear energy plant in Kemmerer.

“I’m curious why you chose Wyoming because Wyoming is in fact the largest coal-producing state. So you kind of walked into the lion’s den on this one,” correspondent Barry Petersen mentioned. 

“Wyoming has a lot of transmission because of the coal plants. And, you know, they’re, they’re willing to let things go at, at full speed. There’s somewhat of a pro-business atmosphere,” Gates mentioned. 

Kemmerer Mayor Bill Thek says his city isn’t any stranger to American entrepreneurs. JCPenny opened its first retailer in Kemmerer in 1902 earlier than going nationwide.

“This is James Cash Penney,” Thek instructed Petersen. 

“JC Penney?”

“Yeah, JC Penney. He created JCPenney Corporation right from here,” Thek mentioned. 

Now, Kemmerer has a Twenty first-century enterprise hero.

“Wyoming is a fairly conservative state. Bill Gates is not a name where I think people would have a lot of praise for in Wyoming ’cause of his stance on phasing out coal and things of that sort. But now he’s kinda your local hero,” Petersen mentioned. 

“There are people who absolutely abhor him. But, you know, this is what it is. He decided to put money into this. The nuclear, as far as I’m concerned, goes along with his green energy moving forward. And we’re not, I’m not opposed to that, and I don’t think most of the citizens are opposed to something like that,” Thek mentioned. 

Solar and wind solely work when the climate is true, however nuclear works 24 hours a day with out spewing out climate-changing greenhouse gasses. It may very well be in operation by 2029, utilizing a next-generation expertise referred to as natrium, which is the Latin identify for sodium. Sodium-cooled reactors are 3 times extra environment friendly than conventional water-cooled reactors, which implies considerably much less nuclear waste.

“And so the amount that you’re making, you know, per decade is less than the size of a big room. And so the technology for waste disposal we’ve had that advance. So that shouldn’t be a limiting factor anymore,” Gates mentioned. 

The promise of a brand new plant has bulldozers at work as out-of-town builders like David Jackson suppose they’re constructing right into a increase. The first of two,500 staff who will assemble the plant are already doing web site surveys. There shall be 300 staff working the plant as soon as it comes on-line.

“There’s a lot of big companies coming here. There’s a need for the housing. So we jumped right into the market and was kind of first come. That’s who’s gonna win the game,” Jackson mentioned. 

Today’s plant staff might also win by getting new jobs, says Roger Holt, a supervisor on the coal plant, and Mark Thatcher, a retired coal miner.

“You know, this is a new design nuclear reactor but it’s still is going to end up generating steam, turning a steam turbine,” Holt mentioned. “You’re gonna have a lot of the same equipment that we use right now to generate power. So, a lot of what we do will be transferable.”

“Does this mean Kemmerer’s going to have jobs for 50 years?” Petersen requested. 

“Yeah, the thing is, if you got 300 primary jobs, it allows gas stations, grocery stores, motels, everything else to be, ya know?” Thatcher mentioned. 

“Isn’t jobs the real answer here, that what you’re bringing to this community is a chance to continue going on after their legacy of coal is over?” Petersen requested Gates. 

“Exactly. You know, when that coal plant is shutting down, the ability of this community to keep young people and still be vibrant is under threat,” Gates mentioned. 

Small cities survive when younger individuals like these center schoolers discover hometown jobs and when mother and father could make a dwelling to assist a household. Now, Kemmerer can try this, says Thek. 

“You have to move forward, or yeah, you stagnate and you die. And to me, that’s not an option,” Thek mentioned.