Wyoming's First Next-Gen Nuclear Plant Gets Green Light for Construction
TerraPower has received approval to build its first commercial nuclear power plant in Wyoming. Named Kemmerer Unit 1, the facility will use advanced reactor technology and aims to begin construction in the coming weeks. The project marks a significant step in the U.S. push for next-generation nuclear energy.
The plant will feature a sodium-cooled reactor with an output of around 345 megawatts—smaller than traditional reactors, which often produce 1 to 1.5 gigawatts. This design allows for faster construction, lower costs, and easier integration into the power grid. A molten salt-based storage system will also enable the plant to boost output to 500 megawatts for up to five hours during peak demand.
Kemmerer Unit 1 will run on HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium) fuel, enriched to just under 20 percent. This fuel improves efficiency but is currently produced mostly in Russia. The U.S. is now expanding its own HALEU production to reduce reliance on foreign supplies.
Regulatory approval came quickly, with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission completing its review in under 18 months. This followed a 2020 executive order by former President Donald Trump to speed up nuclear energy projects. Construction is expected to finish by 2030, with full operation starting in 2031.
TerraPower plans to build at least ten more plants by 2035, aiming to cut the cost of the tenth reactor by half compared to the first. Tech companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have already secured nuclear power deals to support their energy-heavy AI data centres.
The Wyoming plant will be the first of several advanced reactors planned by TerraPower. Its smaller, scalable design and energy storage capabilities aim to provide reliable power for industries and the grid. With construction set to begin soon, the project will test whether next-generation nuclear can deliver on its promises of speed, affordability, and efficiency.
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