Bill Gates' Nuclear Project in Wyoming Gets Green Light

US issues first commercial construction permit for a nuclear reactor in years to TerraPower

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the first construction permit for a commercial nuclear reactor in eight years, allowing a Bill Gates-backed company, TerraPower, to build a sodium-cooled reactor in western Wyoming. The up to $4 billion plant is expected to be completed by 2030 and produce enough energy for around 400,000 homes.

Why it matters

This is the first approval for a non-light-water commercial reactor in over 40 years, signaling a potential shift towards advanced nuclear technologies that could help power the electricity-hungry data centers behind artificial intelligence. However, the federal government still needs to address the growing issue of spent nuclear fuel storage.

The details

TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, filed for the permit in 2024 and construction is now set to begin within weeks on the 345-megawatt reactor that can produce up to 500 megawatts at its peak. The reactor will use molten sodium as a coolant, rather than water, and will be built near a coal-fired power plant that is being converted to burn natural gas outside the town of Kemmerer, Wyoming.

  • TerraPower filed for the construction permit in 2024.
  • The NRC approved the permit on March 5, 2026.
  • Construction is set to begin within weeks of the permit approval.
  • Completion of the plant is targeted for 2030.

The players

TerraPower

A company founded by Bill Gates that is focused on developing advanced nuclear technologies, including the sodium-cooled reactor project in Wyoming.

Bill Gates

The co-founder of Microsoft and the primary investor in TerraPower, which is pursuing the nuclear reactor project in Wyoming.

Chris Levesque

The President and CEO of TerraPower.

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The federal agency that approved the construction permit for TerraPower's nuclear reactor, the first such approval for a commercial non-light-water reactor in over 40 years.

Chris Wright

The US Energy Secretary who met with Bill Gates regarding the TerraPower reactor project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have spent thousands of manpower hours working to achieve this momentous accomplishment.”

— Chris Levesque, President and CEO, TerraPower

“I wish I could deliver nuclear fission like three years earlier than I can, because then we'd have a perfect match to the current demand pattern of these data center guys.”

— Bill Gates (newser.com)

What’s next

The Department of Energy has announced it is taking a first step towards possible partnerships with states to modernize the nuclear fuel cycle, including reprocessing spent fuel and disposing of waste. States have until April 1 to express interest in participating.

The takeaway

This project represents a significant milestone in the development of advanced nuclear technologies that could help power the energy-intensive data centers behind artificial intelligence. However, the federal government still needs to address the long-standing issue of spent nuclear fuel storage before widespread adoption of new nuclear reactors can occur.