Wedoany.com Report on Mar 10th, The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has authorized the issuance of a construction permit for Unit 1 of the Kemmerer Power Plant in Wyoming to US SFR Owner (USO), a subsidiary of TerraPower. NRC Chairman Ho Nie stated, "This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States, reflecting our commitment to making timely, predictable decisions based on rigorous, independent safety reviews." This is the first commercial reactor approved by the NRC in nearly a decade and the first non-light water reactor approved in over forty years.
TerraPower submitted its application in March 2024, planning to build a sodium-cooled advanced reactor at the Kemmerer site. NRC staff completed the technical review in less than 18 months and issued the Safety Evaluation Report and Environmental Impact Statement in 2025. USO expects to complete construction by February 28, 2031, and apply for a 40-year operating license. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, aiming to demonstrate the Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor technology.
The 345 MWe power plant includes an energy storage system that can temporarily boost output to 500 MWe. The reactor features a pool-type, metal-fueled, sodium-cooled fast reactor design, relying on passive safety systems and thermal convection for cooling, and uses high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) metal fuel. The design aims to use 80% less nuclear-grade concrete per megawatt than traditional large reactors.
The construction permit for Kemmerer Unit 1 allows TerraPower and its partner Bechtel to begin work on the nuclear island. Work on the non-nuclear "energy island" began in June 2024, with on-site facilities such as sodium testing and filling facilities nearing completion. The Natrium reactor is a globally assembled project, with major components manufactured by international partners in South Korea, Spain, Canada, the United States, and others, and shipped to the Kemmerer site for final installation.
TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque said, "We plan to begin construction of the Natrium plant in the coming weeks and look forward to deploying the first Natrium reactor and energy storage system in Wyoming." Despite facing logistical challenges, the project marks a significant advancement for the United States in advanced nuclear energy technology.
