TerraPower Advances Construction of Next-Generation Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming
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TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates, has received final regulatory approval to begin construction on an advanced nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The project, which uses innovative liquid sodium cooling and underground design, is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. and could power up to 500,000 homes by 2031.
Facts First
- TerraPower has final approval to build an advanced nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, following five years of safety reviews.
- The plant's novel design uses liquid sodium for cooling and buries most components underground.
- The project is partly funded by the Biden administration's Infrastructure Law, which covered about half of the construction costs.
- If operational by 2031, the reactor could power nearly 500,000 homes, with potential service to Salt Lake City.
- The project is located in a former coal town and is part of a broader push for new nuclear energy to meet rising demand from data centers and AI.
What Happened
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave TerraPower final approval in March to begin construction on an advanced nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The plant is one of the first of a new generation of designs and is only the fourth nuclear reactor to be built in the U.S. this century. Its design involves burying almost everything underground and using liquid sodium metal instead of water for reactor cooling. The project began under a Department of Energy (DOE) pilot program during the first Trump administration, and the Biden administration's Infrastructure Law provided approximately two billion dollars to cover construction costs.
Why this Matters to You
This development could lead to a more stable and potentially cleaner source of electricity. If the plant is online by 2031, it may supply power to areas like Salt Lake City, helping to meet the surging energy demand forecasted from data centers and artificial intelligence. For the local community of Kemmerer, a former coal town, the project represents an economic transition. The project's progress also signals a broader shift in U.S. energy policy, which could influence future electricity costs and reliability.
What's Next
TerraPower will now move forward with construction, aiming for the plant to be operational by 2031. The company has already signed agreements with META to build additional reactors to power data centers. Meanwhile, Utah has applied to become one of the DOE's new nuclear hubs, which could further regional development in fuel and waste management. In Kemmerer, city officials are lobbying TerraPower to build a second nuclear plant in the area. Spent fuel from the reactor will be stored on-site in Wyoming until a permanent federal repository is approved.