Bill Gates‑founded nuclear startup TerraPower has just received a Nuclear Regulatory Commission permit to build its next‑generation Natrium reactor in Wyoming. That clearance marks the first time a commercial‑scale, advanced nuclear plant has ever been granted a federal license, and it will be the first new commercial reactor in the United States in almost a decade.
Construction on the 345‑megawatt facility is slated to wrap up by 2030, and the project is already generating buzz among the growing crowd of firms trying to roll out smaller, more efficient reactors to support grids that are feeling the pressure of AI‑hungry data centers. In a 2024 interview with The Verge, Gates explained that he sees nuclear as a key part of the climate solution, especially when designs cut down on safety risks, fuel consumption, and waste handling.
The Natrium design sets itself apart from traditional water‑cooled reactors by using liquid sodium as the primary coolant. That choice trims shielding costs and lets the plant run at lower pressures, which simplifies engineering and improves safety margins. On top of that, TerraPower is pairing the reactor with a molten‑salt‑based energy storage system. The storage unit can quickly ramp the output from 345 megawatts up to 500 megawatts whenever demand spikes, giving utilities a flexible, clean backup without the need for fossil‑fuel peakers.
Hot take: the Natrium concept finally makes nuclear look cool again, and the industry’s fixation on massive, legacy reactors has been the biggest barrier to wider adoption.
If the Wyoming plant stays on schedule, it could become a template for the next wave of modular reactors, showing that advanced nuclear can fit neatly into a modern, data‑driven grid while keeping emissions in check.
Via Bill Gates’ nuclear company is the first to get approval to build next-gen reactor
Gladstone is a tech virtuoso, boasting a dynamic 25-year journey through the digital landscape. A maestro of code, he has engineered cutting-edge software, orchestrated high-performing teams, and masterminded robust system architectures. His experience covers large-scale systems, as well as the intricacies of embedded systems and microcontrollers. A proud alumnus of a prestigious British institution, he wields a computer-science-related honours degree.