TerraPower Builds Training Center at Kemmerer Nuclear Site

Training Center Rises at Advanced Wyoming Nuclear Power Plant Site

KEMMERER, WY — Oct. 9, 2025 — As permitting advances for TerraPower’s next-generation Natrium nuclear power plant, the company is constructing a 30,000-square-foot training center on the former coal-fired power plant site in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The facility is intended to train future staff in the operation of the Kemmerer plant and other advanced nuclear projects worldwide.

Groundbreaking for the training center took place in August, with completion expected in roughly 14 months, according to Sarah Young, TerraPower Director of Communications and Marketing.

“The Kemmerer Training Center will serve as a cornerstone for workforce development in the advanced nuclear industry,” Young said.

Located adjacent to the future reactor, the center is designed by Chicago-based Sargent & Lundy and constructed by Bechtel, which also serves as the prime contractor for the $4-billion Natrium plant. Curtiss-Wright Corp., a North Carolina-based defense and mission-critical manufacturer, will design and supply the training simulator and reactor control equipment.

Facility Features and Purpose

The training center will house:

• A state-of-the-art training simulator for Natrium reactor operations.
• Electrical and instrumentation laboratories for mechanical and scientific instruction.
• Classrooms and an auditorium for formal instruction and workshops.
• Additional flexible training spaces for continuing operator education.

The facility is designed to support accredited operator training and requalification for the Kemmerer Unit 1 and future Natrium plants as TerraPower’s reactor fleet expands. It is expected to become the central hub for the next generation of nuclear operators.

Project Timeline and Collaboration

Construction of the Natrium reactor began in June 2024, with completion projected around 2030. The project continues to move toward final approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

“Bechtel is proud to be delivering the next generation of U.S. nuclear power at TerraPower’s Natrium Project,” said Dena Volovar, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security and Environmental Business, in a statement to ENR. “Drawing on more than 70 years of nuclear experience, we are training America’s craft professionals in nuclear safety and quality while applying the latest digital tools and mega-project expertise to make construction more predictable and efficient. With the Training Center and Test and Fill Facility already underway, we are moving nuclear innovation like the Natrium reactor into power generation faster and more reliably.”

The NRC continues to engage with TerraPower on the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 review, said spokesperson Scott Burnell. A final Environmental Impact Study is expected soon, following the completion of a consolidated draft legal review in June 2025.

Impact on Workforce and Community

The training center is projected to:

• Develop a highly skilled nuclear workforce, crucial for the safe operation of Natrium reactors.
• Support economic growth in Kemmerer, including jobs in construction, engineering, and specialized nuclear operations.
• Provide a model for global nuclear training, as TerraPower plans similar centers at future international reactor sites.

The Kemmerer facility and training center together represent a major step in transitioning U.S. energy infrastructure toward advanced nuclear technologies, combining modern reactor design, workforce development, and rigorous safety standards

Originally reported by Brian Fryer in ENR Mountain States & South West.