TerraPower Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming Gets Federal Permit
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a construction permit to TerraPower, a nuclear start-up backed by Bill Gates, marking the first new U.S. commercial reactor approval in nearly a decade.
- TerraPower's advanced nuclear plant will be built in Kemmerer, Wyoming, near a retiring coal plant, with an expected operational date around 2031.
- The new reactor design aims to be smaller and easier to build compared to traditional large reactors, reflecting a broader industry shift toward advanced nuclear technology.
- Nuclear power is gaining bipartisan support in the U.S. as a low-carbon energy source capable of providing reliable, round-the-clock electricity amid rising demand.
- Despite some opposition over safety and waste disposal, many see nuclear energy as
