Share and Follow
In a significant move for the U.S. energy sector, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted its first construction permit in eight years for a commercial nuclear reactor. This green light allows a company backed by Bill Gates to proceed with building a cutting-edge sodium-cooled reactor in western Wyoming.
TerraPower, the firm spearheading this initiative, initially submitted its application for the permit in 2024. With the approval now secured, construction is poised to commence in the coming weeks. The project, estimated to cost up to $4 billion, aims for completion by 2030, as stated by TerraPower.
“This milestone is the result of thousands of hours of dedication and hard work,” remarked Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower, in a statement celebrating the achievement.
Bill Gates, the visionary co-founder of Microsoft, is a driving force behind TerraPower. He sees nuclear energy as a viable solution to power the data centers that are crucial for running artificial intelligence applications, underlining his significant investment in the company.
The new TerraPower plant will rise on the grounds of a former coal-fired power plant, which is currently transitioning to natural gas usage, near the small town of Kemmerer. Located about 130 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, this site will eventually host the innovative reactor. Meanwhile, PacifiCorp’s Naughton plant, currently at the location, will continue its operations during the transition.
The 345-megawatt reactor could generate up to 500 megawatts at its peak, enough for up to 400,000 homes.