TerraPower nuclear plant breaks ground
On April 23, construction commenced on Wyoming’s first-ever commercial nuclear power plant – a 345-megawatt (MW) Natrium plant being built by nuclear innovation company TerraPower.
Known as Kemmerer Unit One, the plant is being constructed near a retiring coal plant and is expected to be finished in 2031. The project is on track to become the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the nation.
“We’re not just breaking new ground on a first-of-a-kind nuclear plant in Wyoming, we’re building the next generation of America’s energy infrastructure,” says TerraPower President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Levesque in an April 23 TerraPower press release.
Next-generation technology
According to TerraPower, the Natrium reactor is a one-of-a-kind sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage system – a model the company calls “breakthrough innovation” responsible for providing built-in gigawatt-scale energy storage.
Sodium serves as the cooling agent for the Natrium plant, which means the plant’s cooling system doesn’t rely on water and also requires less steel and concrete, according to an April 23 WyoFile article.
TerraPower says the storage technology can boost energy output to 500 MW of power when needed, which is enough energy to power roughly 400,000 homes.
The company adds the energy storage capability is designed to keep base output steady to ensure constant reliability, but can quickly ramp up when demand peaks.
Kemmerer Unit One is a joint effort between TerraPower and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project.
TerraPower is working to commercialize Natrium technology rapidly, including an agreement with social media powerhouse Meta for up to eight Natrium plants by 2035.
“The Natrium plant will deliver reliable and dispatchable power to the grid, and Kemmerer Unit One will serve as a commercial blueprint to mobilize a fleet of Natrium plants across the country and around the world,” says Levesque.
Powering the future
TerraPower says the Natrium plant is being built to meet the challenges of the clean energy transition, as well as to provide support to Kemmerer’s local economy for decades to come.
Peak construction of the plant is expected to support approximately 1,600 workers, the company states, with around 250 permanent full-time positions expected to be filled once the plant is fully operational.
Gov. Mark Gordon says the project reflects Wyoming’s commitment to reliable energy, good-paying jobs and a future built on innovation and Wyoming values.
“The start of construction on TerraPower’s Natrium plant in Kemmerer marks a major milestone, not just for Wyoming but for the future of American energy,” says Gordon. “Wyoming has long powered this country, and today we are leading again – this time in next-generation nuclear technology.”
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both R-WY) have expressed their support for the plant, along with U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY).
Calling it a “win-win for Wyoming and America’s energy security,” Barrasso says the project is another example of Wyoming’s leadership in the energy sector.
“As the country’s number one producer of uranium, Wyoming is the perfect place to build TerraPower’s advanced nuclear reactor,” says Barrasso. “Starting construction on this groundbreaking project will create more jobs in Kemmerer and help expand Wyoming’s already strong energy economy. It’s a win-win for Wyoming and America’s energy security.”
Lummis says the start of construction marks a “defining moment” and step in the right direction for American energy independence.
“The start of construction on TerraPower’s energy island in Kemmerer is a defining moment for our state, our nation and the future of American energy,” Lummis says. “This project delivers what Wyoming communities deserve – good-paying jobs, lasting economic strength and reliable, affordable baseload power.”
“This construction of the first new state-of-the-art advanced nuclear power plant demonstrates Wyoming’s leadership pioneering a new frontier in American energy,” Hageman adds. “As the nation’s top producer of uranium, Wyoming is a natural launch pad for America’s nuclear renaissance.”
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
