TerraPower has officially started building the Kemmerer Unit 1 in Wyoming, marking a significant step as it will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.
• The construction announcement was made on April 23, 2026, leading to the development of the Natrium reactor, which is a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor.
• This plant will include a molten salt-based energy storage system capable of increasing output to 500 megawatts for over five hours to meet peak energy demands.
• The location for this nuclear facility is near a coal plant that is being decommissioned, making it Wyoming's first commercial nuclear power station.
• Non-nuclear site preparations began in June 2024, after overcoming numerous engineering and regulatory challenges.
• The project has received support from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Key partners include Bechtel for construction and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy for reactor technology.
• Commercial operations are expected to start around 2030.
• Currently, the U. S. is lagging in nuclear construction compared to countries like China, which has been accelerating its nuclear plant development.
• TerraPower has also partnered with Meta to potentially establish up to eight Natrium plants by 2035 to support data centers.
The initiation of the Kemmerer Unit 1 construction is a crucial development for the U. S. energy sector, signifying progress in advanced nuclear technology and innovation for future energy needs.
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/terrapower-commences-construction-utility-scale-advanced-reactor
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