TerraPower President and CEO, Chris Levesque, issues a statement on the announcement of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s completion of the Final Safety Evaluation for the first Natrium plant1, Kemmerer Unit 1, construction permit application:
“Today is a momentous occasion for TerraPower, our project partners and the Natrium design. This favorable safety evaluation from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reflects years of rigorous evaluation, thoughtful collaboration with the NRC, and an unwavering commitment to both safety and innovation.”
“I am deeply proud of our team’s efforts in pioneering the design and licensing of America’s first, commercial-scale, advanced nuclear power plant. TerraPower remains focused on delivering the next generation of reliable, flexible power to the grid and long-term jobs for the Kemmerer community.”
Read the full NRC press release here.
About the Natrium Reactor
The Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost the system’s output to 500 MWe of power when needed as it is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks — it is the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature.
The first Natrium project is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. TerraPower began construction on the non-nuclear portions of the site in June 2024. When completed, the Natrium plant will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.
About TerraPower
TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world’s most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world’s public and private sectors to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at terrapower.com.
Media Contacts
press@terrapower.com
1 The Natrium reactor is a TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy technology.
Source: Terrapower
