Assistant county staff presented a resolution (160-25) expressing Johnson County’s interest in being considered as a potential site for TerraPower’s Natrium advanced nuclear energy facility. The presentation said the action ‘‘expresses interest only’’ and ‘‘does not bind the county financially or otherwise’’ while preserving the county’s regulatory authority and requiring comprehensive public engagement before any specific approvals.

Staff described the proposed Natrium design as a 345-megawatt plant with integrated energy storage of up to 500 megawatts (roughly five and a half hours of output), enhanced safety systems and a 400-meter emergency planning zone. Presenters said the project has bipartisan support at the state and federal level and that a 2026 site-selection process will consider community support, site characteristics, infrastructure and workforce.

Commissioners asked whether more than one site could be sited in Kansas and for a construction timeline; staff estimated permitting, planning and construction could reach into 2030. Commissioner Ashcraft suggested the item be moved to the action agenda next week to allow initial public comment; the board planned to take that step.