TerraPower has officially commenced construction on its flagship Natrium reactor project in Kemmerer, Wyoming, marking a major milestone for advanced nuclear energy and U.S. infrastructure development.
The Kemmerer Unit 1 project is expected to become the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States, following the issuance of a construction permit by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The development represents years of engineering, regulatory approvals and early site work coming to fruition.
“This is the moment our industry has been working toward for a generation. We're not just breaking new ground on a first-of-a-kind nuclear plant in Wyoming; we're building the next generation of America's energy infrastructure,” said Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower. “The Natrium plant will deliver reliable and dispatchable power to the grid and Kemmerer Unit 1 will serve as a commercial blueprint to mobilize a fleet of Natrium plants across the country and around the world.”
The project is expected to mobilize approximately 1,600 construction workers during peak activity, creating significant employment opportunities in Wyoming’s energy sector. Once operational, the plant will support around 250 full-time jobs.
State and federal officials highlighted the project’s economic and workforce benefits. “The start of construction on TerraPower's Natrium plant in Kemmerer marks a major milestone not just for Wyoming, but for the future of American energy,” said Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso also emphasized the state’s strategic role, stating, “As the country's number one producer of uranium, Wyoming is the perfect place to build TerraPower's advanced nuclear reactor. Starting construction on this groundbreaking project will create more jobs in Kemmerer and help expand Wyoming's already strong energy economy.”
The Natrium plant features a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor integrated with a molten salt-based energy storage system. This design enables the facility to boost output to 500 megawatts during periods of high demand, providing flexible and reliable baseload power.
The system is capable of supplying electricity to approximately 400,000 homes, combining consistent output with the ability to ramp up generation when needed. This integrated storage capability distinguishes the Natrium design from other advanced reactor technologies.
The project is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, reflecting a public-private partnership aimed at accelerating next-generation nuclear deployment. Engineering, procurement and construction services are being led by Bechtel, which is leveraging digital tools and advanced delivery methods to ensure efficient project execution.
“Bechtel is proud to partner with TerraPower as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor on the Natrium advanced reactor,” said Dena Volovar, president of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. “By combining TerraPower's reactor innovation with Bechtel's processes, experience and execution model we will deliver these nuclear projects consistently, safely and at scale.”
The Kemmerer project also represents Wyoming’s first commercial nuclear generating station and is a key component of broader efforts to expand domestic clean energy capacity while enhancing grid reliability.
With construction now underway, TerraPower is positioning the Natrium reactor as a scalable model for future deployment, including plans to build additional units across the U.S. and internationally in the coming decade.
Originally reported by TerraPower in PR News Wire.
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