Bill Gates Company Approved to Build Nuclear Power Station
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The US has taken a step toward a 21st-century renaissance in civilian nuclear power as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has given the go-ahead for TerraPower's Natrium Gen IV reactor to begin construction - the first such approval for a US reactor in a decade.
TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, and backed by other major investors too (including the US Dept. of Energy, has seen its approval progress at an unusually rapid pace for American nuclear development. That is because the US government is looking to revive the nuclear sector with a more streamlined regulatory process aimed at encouraging the construction of new plants while maintaining safety standards.
The formal application to build the TerraPower Natrium Gen IV reactor was accepted in May 2024 and after clearing the regulatory hurdles in less than two years, has now been approved for construction in Kemmerer, Wyoming. However, this approval is not the end of the process. Once the reactor is completed, the operator must still apply for a separate operating license before the plant can begin generating power. The plant is targeted to come online in 2030 and expected to cost around $4 billion - but TerraPower expects that future projects will cost nearer $1 billion.
"This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering timely, predictable decisions grounded in a rigorous and independent safety review," said NRC Chairman Ho Nieh.
TerraPower's Natrium Gen IV reactor is notable because it will be the first non-light-water reactor built in the United States since the 1980s and, says the company, is a significant advance on conventional designs in both its concept and layout. It what's called a fast-neutron reactor and is sodium-cooled. According to TerraPower, the design also offers safety advantages.
