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 and sign up for our newsletter.