The construction of the advanced Wyoming nuclear power plant is scheduled for completion by 2030. TerraPower, a nuclear energy startup founded by Bill Gates, has obtained Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval to build a next-generation reactor in Wyoming. This marks the first commercial-scale, advanced nuclear power plant to receive a federal permit and will be the first commercial reactor constructed in the US in nearly a decade. The Wyoming plant’s construction is anticipated to be completed by 2030. TerraPower is among several companies striving to create smaller, more efficient reactors to support electrical grids burdened by AI data centers. In a 2024 interview, Bill Gates expressed that nuclear energy could aid in addressing the climate crisis with designs that minimize issues concerning safety, fuel usage, and waste management. Unlike traditional water-cooled nuclear plants, TerraPower’s 345 megawatt “Natrium” design employs liquid sodium to decrease shielding costs and operates at lower pressures. The plant also includes a distinctive “molten salt-based energy storage system” that enables it to increase power output to 500 megawatts when demand surges.
Bill Gates’ Nuclear Company Secures First Approval to Build Next-Gen Reactor
1 Min Read