Virginia Energy Resources, the parent company of Virginia Uranium, will take its mining ban challenge all the way to the Supreme Court of the US this fall.
Virginia Energy Resources (TSXV:VUI) will take its mining ban challenge all the way to the Supreme Court of the US this fall.
The uranium exploration company is challenging a 33-year-old ban on uranium mining in Virginia in hopes of exploring and producing at its Coles Hill project.
On Monday (May 21), the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case Virginia Energy has brought against the state of Virginia. The company believes a moratorium on uranium mining issued in 1982 should be nullified, in part because uranium now plays a key role in nuclear energy production.
The state levied the moratorium on uranium mining in the early 1980s amid fear about security and public health concerns. Since then, uranium has become an invaluable resource when it comes to nuclear power generation; however, it remains one of the key components for nuclear warheads as well.
Virginia Energy subsidiary Virginia Uranium initiated the suit and will serve as plaintiff, along with several other mining companies. This is not the first time Virginia Uranium has tried to get the ban lifted — the company had an earlier version of the lawsuit thrown out by a lower court; it is now hoping the revived suit will win over the Supreme Court.
“We have worked exhaustively for years to satisfy concerns about our plan from our neighbors, local elected officials, state legislators and other public officials,” Walter Coles, Virginia Uranium’s president and CEO, said in a 2015 press release. “We have made clear that we intend to construct and operate the safest and most modern uranium mining operation in the world.”
The company argues that state fears over radiation levels should be subject to federal oversight, not municipal or state, and says the statewide ban violates the US Atomic Energy Act. According to the 1954 act, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has exclusive power to regulate radiation safety standards for milling uranium ore and disposing of waste by-products known as tailings.
Meanwhile, the state has argued that the Atomic Energy Act does not cover conventional uranium mining on privately owned land, making the Coles Hill project subject to state-level regulations.
The case, which is scheduled to be heard when the Supreme Court reconvenes in October, could set a precedent when it comes to mining management and jurisdiction.
“States could, for example, pass laws that impede physical access to nuclear facilities, diminish the availability of source materials or equipment necessary for nuclear development, or erect financial barriers to the development of nuclear energy,” US Solicitor General Noel Francisco told Reuters.
According to Virginia Uranium, Coles Hill is believed to be one of the largest untapped uranium resources in the world, with an estimated 119 million pounds of uranium waiting to be discovered.
“Our goal is, and always has been, to responsibly tap a natural resource on our own private land as a business enterprise that will reward investors as well as strengthen our regional and state economies and contribute to national security by providing a clean, domestic energy source,” Coles said.
The Trump administration has come forward to support the effort of the companies. Virginia Uranium believes the removal of the ban could have long-lasting economic ramifications on the area and state.
The uranium spot price was down US$0.05 on Tuesday (May 22), and closed at US$21.70 per pound.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Generation Uranium offers investors high-leverage exposure to a potential major discovery in Canada’s underexplored and resource-rich Thelon Basin, led by a management team with a proven track record of securing high-value exits.
Overview
Generation Uranium (CSE:GEN, OTCQB:GENR, FRA:W85) is a Canadian exploration company focused on wealth creation through discovery within the uranium sector. The company’s primary strategy is to build a high-caliber exploration team that can rapidly test and drill high-potential targets, de-risking projects for potential takeover by larger producers. Currently centered in the prolific Thelon and Angikuni Basins of Nunavut, the company is also actively evaluating additional project acquisitions in the Athabasca Basin to expand its portfolio.

The company is led by a veteran management team with nearly 30 years of experience in mineral development. CEO Michael Collins has a significant track record of building and exiting public companies, including the co-founding of Bluerock Resources, a conventional uranium producer during the 2000-2008 cycle. This expertise is paired with a focused business model that leverages modern geophysical targeting to accelerate exploration timelines and reduce costs, ensuring the company can deliver results quickly in a bullish uranium market.
Company Highlights
- Strategic Location in a Premier Uranium District: The flagship Yath Project is located in Nunavut’s Thelon Basin, contiguous to ATHA Energy’s Angilak Project, which hosts the high-grade Lac 50 deposit.
- High-Grade Discovery Potential: Historical surface sampling at the Yath Project has yielded exceptional uranium grades, including boulders testing at 9.81 percent, 3.95 percent, and 2.14 percent U3O8.
- Expert Management with Exit Experience: Led by CEO Michael Collins, the team has decades of experience in mineral exploration and a history of co-founding companies that were later acquired, such as Prime Mining and Nuclear Fuels.
- Low-Cost, Rapid Exploration Strategy: By leveraging modern geophysics and extensive historical data, the company aims for a "short road to discovery," de-risking projects quickly to maximize shareholder value.
- Bullish Market Fundamentals: Generation Uranium is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand for carbon-free nuclear power, supported by a projected supply deficit and increased interest from major tech companies seeking clean energy.
Key Project
Yath Project - Nunavut, Canada
The Yath Project is Generation Uranium’s flagship project. This 100 percent owned property covers about 120 square kilometers within the underexplored Thelon Basin in Nunavut, Canada. The project is located where the Yathkyed and Angikuni sub-basins meet, which is a region known globally for high-grade uranium potential. It sits directly along the same trend as the Angilak Project owned by ATHA Energy (TSXV:SASK, OTCQB:SASFK, FWB:XSU.F), which contains the Lac 50 deposit, one of the highest-grade uranium resources found outside of the Athabasca Basin with a historical mineral resource estimate of 43.3M lbs at an average grade of 0.69 percent U3O8.

The Yath Project is contiguous to the Lac 50 trend and is crossed by several regional faults and basin boundaries. Past exploration work has already identified high priority targets, while surface sampling in the area has produced uranium grades from boulders, with some testing at 9.81 percent, 3.95 percent, and 2.14 percent U3O8.
The company has commenced its initial field program at the site, set to define and rank drill targets. Historic showings will be combined with new anomalies from the MMT geophysics survey, preparing the project for an anticipated drill permit.
Management Team
Michael Collins - CEO & Director
Michael Collins is a professional geoscientist with nearly 30 years of experience in mineral exploration. He has co-founded several public companies, including Exploits Discovery, Prime Mining (acquired in 2025), and Nuclear Fuels (merged with Premier American Uranium in 2025). He is also currently a director of First Atlantic Nickel.
Christoph Bruening - Director
Christoph Bruening is the founder and managing partner of Value Relations GmbH, a full-service investor relations and public relations agency in Frankfurt with over 25 years of excellence, focusing on mining, exploration, biotech and health care. In addition, he has listed over 600 companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is a speaker and author of several publications, including on rare earths and uranium.
Dallas Miller - Director
Dallas Miller has been working within the international mining industry for over 15 years, working with BHP and Santos Ltd. He has experience on the ground from an operational standpoint, as well as being an integral part of raising millions of dollars in capital funding for both private and public companies in recent years.
Roger Leschuk - VP Corporate Development
Roger Leschuk has been in corporate management for over two decades, with the past 15 years dedicated to corporate development and investor relations. He has experience participating in and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, and was an investment advisor for various services such as stocks, mutual funds and tax-sheltered investments. He is a Chartered Investment Manager and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute.
Monty Sutton - CFO
Monty Sutton brings over 35 years of experience in public markets and corporate governance. He previously served as CFO for Nuclear Fuels from its IPO through its acquisition.
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