Kemmerer council approves rules for possible 1,600-worker temporary housing camp

The Kemmerer City Council approved an ordinance June 22 establishing regulations for a possible temporary workforce-housing camp that could accommodate approximately 1,600 workers connected to construction of TerraPower’s Natrium advanced nuclear plant near Kemmerer.

The action creates a local regulatory framework for a potential “man camp” inside city limits. It does not establish that the camp has been built or occupied. Residents raised objections during the council process, as the city considered how temporary housing for a large construction workforce would fit into Kemmerer’s growth and infrastructure planning.

What the city action changes

The ordinance gives the city rules for evaluating and regulating the possible workforce-housing development. City officials said city streets and related infrastructure would serve the development, putting transportation capacity and public services among the issues connected to the proposal.

A city planning and zoning meeting in June also considered potential locations for worker housing. The council’s June 22 vote addressed regulations for the possible camp, while the action itself is separate from any future site, development or construction decisions.

For residents, the proposal brings temporary workforce housing into discussions about housing demand, streets and public services. A camp sized for approximately 1,600 workers could affect those planning needs and nearby residents, including people who objected during the council process.

Connection to TerraPower’s project

The proposed housing is tied to construction of TerraPower facilities near Kemmerer. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued construction permit CPAR-1 on March 9, 2026, to US SFR Owner LLC, a TerraPower subsidiary.

The permit authorizes construction of Kemmerer Power Station, Unit 1, in Wyoming. It is a construction authorization for the power station, not an indication that the plant is operating. The city ordinance likewise does not establish an operating date for the proposed camp.

The council’s vote is a city-level step in planning for the workforce associated with the nuclear project. It provides rules for a possible temporary housing development while leaving any later decisions about moving the camp forward to the applicable site, development and construction processes.

The known timeline now includes the NRC’s March 9 construction permit and Kemmerer’s June 22 ordinance. The next practical steps would involve any additional approvals or construction decisions needed before the temporary housing could become a functioning facility.