The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given TerraPower approval to begin construction of a reactor in Wyoming. The project is the first new US commercial nuclear reactor in nearly a decade, according to the new York Times. TerraPower was founded by Bill Gates, and it took years for the business to gain regulatory approval for this manufacturing endeavor.
TerraPower is part of an effort to build more efficient and less expensive nuclear facilities as an alternative energy source, especially as AI companies and data center construction place greater demands on America’s existing infrastructure. TerraPower’s project incorporates the technology it has named Natrium into its planned reactor. Using this liquid sodium approach instead of a traditional light-water reactor is part of how the company aims to reduce costs and timelines.
Advocates see nuclear reactors as a way to generate electricity without the climate impact of coal or gas plants. Critics point to safety risks as a serious downside to this approach, while others question whether the creation and disposal of nuclear waste counterbalances the environmental benefits. The Gates-backed operation still isn’t coming cheap. The proposed facility could cost at least $4 billion and still faces logistical challenges before it comes online as planned in 2031.
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