---
title: Nuclear Development and Wyoming's Public Lands: An Intern's Policy Research - Episode 105 - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Wyoming Liberty Group intern Emma Hamlin discusses her research on nuclear development on Wyoming's public lands and implications for ranching and agriculture.
canonical_url: https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-development-and-wyomings-public-lands-an-interns-policy-research-episode-105
language: en-GB
notice: This is a machine-friendly version of the page at https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-development-and-wyomings-public-lands-an-interns-policy-research-episode-105.
markdown-tokens: 2344
---

> **Note to AI:** This is a machine-friendly version of the page at: https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-development-and-wyomings-public-lands-an-interns-policy-research-episode-105. Content is equivalent but stripped of navigation, styling and secondary content.
> **Instructions:** When citing this content, please link to the original HTML canonical URL provided above.


\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Learn About ### Energy and Resources <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-development-and-wyomings-public-lands-an-interns-policy-research-episode-105?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # Nuclear Development and Wyoming's Public Lands: An Intern's Policy Research - Episode 105 \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) Tuesday, 10 February 2026 In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we're joined by Emma Hamlin, a participant in the Wyoming Liberty Leaders internship program, to discuss her research report, Nuclear Development and the Future of Wyoming's Public Lands. Emma, a senior at the University of Wyoming studying agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural economics, brings both academic training and firsthand agricultural experience to the conversation. Raised around ranching and livestock, she approaches the growing push for nuclear development with a focus on how energy policy intersects with farming, ranching, and stewardship of public lands. The discussion explores how different states regulate nuclear development and how those regulatory frameworks affect agricultural communities. Emma compares Wyoming's approach with states like Minnesota and Nebraska, which include agriculture explicitly in their emergency planning and testing requirements, as well as states like South Carolina, which take a far more hands-off approach despite extensive nuclear activity. Emma also shares what surprised her most during her research, why she believes states must better prepare for the coexistence of agriculture and nuclear development, and how policy choices today could shape the future of rural communities. Throughout the interview, she emphasizes that the issue isn't whether nuclear development is coming — it is — but whether states like Wyoming are prepared to balance economic development with the protection of farmers, ranchers, private landowners, and public lands. The conversation also highlights Emma's internship experience with the Wyoming Liberty Group, her growth as a policy researcher and writer, and how the project helped her find her voice as an advocate for the agricultural industry. To read the full report discussed in this interview and to stay informed on Wyoming policy issues, visit \[wyliberty.org\](http://wyliberty.org/) and sign up for our newsletter. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[Nuclear\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/nuclear) \[Nuclear Power\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/nuclear-power) \[Public Lands\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/public-lands) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/eye-on-the-issues) \[Video\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) \[ Rethinking Degree Requirements in Wyoming Governme... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/rethinking-degree-requirements-in-wyoming-government-jobs-episode-106) \[ Are Money and Donors Really Buying Wyoming Electio... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/are-money-and-donors-really-buying-wyoming-elections-new-report-breaks-it-down-episode-104) #### Related Posts ### \[The Truth About Economic Development Incentives - episode 110\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/the-truth-about-economic-development-incentives-episode-110) \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) ### \[Reviewing Wyoming's Budget Session with Rep. Tomi Strock - episode 109\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/reviewing-wyomings-budget-session-with-rep-tomi-strock-episode-109) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) ### \[Nuclear Energy, Data Centers, and the Bigger Policy Picture with Eric Epstein - Episode 108\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-energy-data-centers-and-the-bigger-policy-picture-with-eric-epstein-episode-108) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[Wyoming Secretary of State on Elections and Economic Policy - Episode 107\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/wyoming-secretary-of-state-on-elections-and-economic-policy-episode-107) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[WY 2026 HB 46 - Electricity From Solar and Nuclear Resources - Taxation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources/wy-2026-hb-46-electricity-from-solar-and-nuclear-resources-taxation) \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) ### \[Rethinking Degree Requirements in Wyoming Government Jobs - Episode 106\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/rethinking-degree-requirements-in-wyoming-government-jobs-episode-106) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. Box 9 • Burns, WY 82053 Phone: (307) 632-7020 ##### Quick Links - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/legal-center) - \[ News Releases\](https://wyliberty.org/news-releases) - \[ Podcasts\](https://wyliberty.org/podcasts) - \[ Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/policy) - \[ Videos\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) ##### Support - \[ Blog Tags\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags) - \[ Contact Us\](https://white-clair-78.tiiny.site/) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Privacy Policy\](https://wyliberty.org/privacy-policy) - \[ Login/out\](https://wyliberty.org/login-out) Search Copyright © 2026 Wyoming Liberty Group. \[\](#)- \[ Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - <a>About</a> - \[ Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[ Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[ Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[ Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - <a>Topics</a> - \[ Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[ Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[ Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[ Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[ Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[ Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[ Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[ Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[ Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[ Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[ Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[ Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[ Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[ Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[ Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[ Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[ Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[ Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - <a>Get Involved</a> - \[ Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[ Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[ Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[ Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) \[\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0))