The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the first-ever construction permit for a commercial-scale advanced nuclear power plant, marking a major milestone for the U.S. energy and construction sectors.
TerraPower announced that its Natrium reactor project, Kemmerer Unit 1, has officially received the permit following a favorable vote by NRC commissioners. The project, located in Wyoming, is set to become the nation’s first utility-scale advanced nuclear facility.
TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque called the decision a landmark achievement for the nuclear industry.
"Today is a historic day for the United States’ nuclear industry. We are beyond proud to receive a positive vote from the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners to grant us our construction permit for Kemmerer Unit One. This is the first commercial-scale, advanced nuclear plant to receive this permit.
Our team has worked relentlessly for over 4 years with the NRC staff to get to this moment. We had extensive pre-application engagement with the NRC; and we submitted a robust and thorough construction permit application almost 2 years ago. We have spent thousands of manpower hours working to achieve this momentous accomplishment.
We plan to start construction on the Natrium plant in the coming weeks and look forward to bringing the first Natrium reactor and energy storage system to market in the great state of Wyoming.”
TerraPower first submitted its construction permit application in March 2024, with the NRC docketing the application two months later. Initially, regulators set a 27-month review timeline, but the process was completed in just 18 months.
The accelerated review was attributed to the company’s comprehensive application, responsiveness to NRC inquiries, and strong federal policy support, including the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act and executive actions promoting nuclear energy development.
The company emphasized that its regulatory strategy focused on detailed technical submissions and consistent engagement with regulators throughout both pre-application and formal review phases.
The Natrium system represents a next-generation nuclear design featuring a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with a molten salt-based energy storage system. This integrated storage capability allows the plant to increase output to 500 megawatts during peak demand while maintaining steady baseline generation.
The project is being developed under the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, a public-private partnership aimed at accelerating deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the project targeting completion by 2030. Once operational, it is anticipated to play a key role in meeting rising electricity demand while supporting grid reliability and decarbonization goals.
TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates and a group of investors, has positioned itself as a leader in nuclear innovation, focusing on technologies that address energy security, environmental sustainability and emerging global challenges.
The Natrium reactor is being developed in collaboration with GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, combining advanced reactor design with energy storage capabilities that distinguish it from traditional nuclear systems.
Originally reported by Terra Power.
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