Construction has officially commenced on TerraPower’s advanced nuclear facility in Kemmerer, Wyoming, marking a significant development in the U.S. energy sector. The company is now the first in the nation to begin building such a plant, known as the Natrium plant, which will incorporate innovative technology.
With a planned capacity of 345 megawatts from a sodium-cooled fast reactor, the facility will also utilize a thermal salt battery, enabling a potential output of up to 500 megawatts for over five hours. TerraPower, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, began construction with non-nuclear features in 2024 and received approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission last month for its nuclear components.
The project is expected to employ around 1,600 workers during construction and approximately 250 full-time staff once operational, with a target for the reactor to be functional by the end of 2030. The estimated cost for the facility is around $4 billion, funded through private investments and a significant federal grant.