The Cibola County Board of Commissioners in New Mexico has passed an official resolution recognizing the strategic importance of the Grants Mineral Belt and endorsing the use of In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium extraction technology. The announcement was welcomed by the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico (CLEAN), an organization that has long championed this extraction method as a sustainable alternative to conventional mining.
The vote passed three to two. This was no routine administrative act: the county had already postponed the debate on two separate occasions — in March and April 2026 — with votes that deferred any decision pending further consultation with other agencies. The October approval therefore marks a genuine shift in direction, reached after months of research, public hearings, and engagement with state and federal regulators.
ISR technology is not new from a technical standpoint. Developed in the United States more than fifty years ago, it now accounts for roughly 60% of all uranium extracted worldwide. The process relies on a network of wells that inject a chemical solution — typically bicarbonate-based — into the ground to dissolve uranium from sandstone deposits. The mineral is then pumped back to the surface through the same wells, with no need for underground tunnels, open pits, or waste rock piles. The visual and physical footprint on the landscape is minimal compared to conventional mining. The method is already in operation in Texas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
The most advanced project in the area is the Grants Precision ISR Project by Grants Energy, covering approximately six square miles of private land near San Mateo, on the border between Cibola and McKinley counties. The project is listed on the federal FAST-41 permitting acceleration program, with the environmental review process expected to conclude by May 2028. The company plans to hire local workers through training programs spanning field operations and environmental sampling.
Janet Lee-Sheriff, president of CLEAN, emphasized that ISR technology has “the potential to extract uranium safely, without tailings or underground work, bringing economic benefits to local communities.” The association operates with a mandate centered on respect for communities, land, and water resources — in a region that has already experienced decades of conventional mining and its lasting environmental legacy.
The Cibola County resolution comes at a time of strong national growth in demand for domestically sourced uranium, driven by the expansion of the nuclear fleet and the need to reduce dependence on foreign supplies. CLEAN held its inaugural “Nuclear in New Mexico” conference in April 2026 and has already announced a second edition for May 2027. The signal from the county is not an isolated one: it is part of an institutional process that, step by step, is laying the groundwork for New Mexico to become a key player in the American nuclear supply chain.
