Summary
TerraPower plans a Natrium nuclear plant in Wyoming. It would use liquid sodium to cool the reactor and molten salt to store heat. In March 2026, the NRC issued a construction permit. The plant still needs an operating license before it can make electricity. TerraPower is also developing an AI model to check design choices.
Introduction
Bill Gates co-founded TerraPower. The company began work at its Natrium site in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in 2024. The NRC issued a construction permit in March 2026. The plant still needs a separate operating license before it can make electricity. It aims to add carbon-free power as demand grows.
Why Bill Gates is backing TerraPower in Wyoming
Gates has long pushed nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels. He invested in TerraPower, which he co-founded in 2008. The Wyoming plant broke ground in Kemmerer in June 2024.
The plant aims to provide steady, carbon-free electricity as demand rises. Gates says nuclear power can provide a lot of power without burning fossil fuels. He expects demand from AI and data centers to rise.
How TerraPower’s Natrium Power Plant Works
The Natrium reactor cools its core with liquid sodium instead of water. The core is the part that produces heat. Compared with typical water-cooled reactors:
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Safety: Sodium-cooled reactors run at lower pressure and higher temperatures. That lowers risks tied to high pressure. Passive systems can cool the reactor without operator action.
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Efficiency: Molten salt stores extra heat. The plant can use that heat to make more electricity when demand rises. This could help it work with wind and solar.
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Cost: AP reported in 2026 that TerraPower expected the project to cost up to $4 billion. TerraPower says that total covers design, licensing, fuel development, and two support sites. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) may provide up to $2 billion under a 50/50 agreement. TerraPower and its partners would match that amount. DOE put the cost of Vogtle Units 3 and 4 at $34 billion in 2023 dollars. The projects differ in size and scope, so this is not a direct cost comparison.
Costs and Effects on the Environment
Some critics question nuclear safety and cost. Gates points to Natrium’s safety systems and possible savings.
Environmental groups and investors have raised concerns about waste, accidents, and cost. TerraPower says Natrium would produce two-thirds less waste by volume than conventional plants. It also says the design has safety measures to limit accident risk.
How AI Helps Design TerraPower’s Plant
In March 2026, TerraPower and SoftServe showed an AI digital twin for design work. A digital twin is a computer model of a plant. TerraPower says it can check design choices and speed up the work. The project is still in development. It does not show how an operating reactor performs. TerraPower’s announcement describes the project.
AI and data centers need power. The proposed $500 billion Stargate Project shows the scale of planned construction. TerraPower’s plant does not make power yet. It could supply the grid after construction and approval to operate.
Jobs and impact in Kemmerer, Wyoming
Coal has long been part of Kemmerer’s economy. A January 2026 PacifiCorp plan says Naughton Units 1 and 2 stopped burning coal. It gives the date as December 31, 2025. The utility planned to switch them to natural gas in 2026. This affects two units, not the whole plant.
TerraPower planned to hire and retrain coal workers. The company shared this plan at its 2024 groundbreaking. It also forecast hundreds of jobs and more business for local shops. These were projections, not current job counts.
Wyoming still produces coal, oil, and gas. State policy also calls for more energy sources and lower greenhouse gas emissions. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere. Natrium fits that plan.
Fuel and U.S. Approval for Construction
Natrium needs high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). This fuel has more uranium-235 than fuel for conventional reactors. Uranium-235 is a form of uranium used to produce nuclear energy. TerraPower planned to source HALEU from Russia. AP reported in 2024 that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine made that supply unavailable. The shortage delayed the project. In October 2024, TerraPower announced a proposed fuel deal. It planned to invest in a South African enrichment plant and buy its fuel. DOE says U.S. suppliers still lack HALEU. In 2025, DOE selected TerraPower in its first HALEU allocation round. The choice came with conditions. Fuel was not yet ready. TerraPower’s fuel agreement and DOE’s current allocation information describe the supply efforts.
In March 2026, the NRC approved a construction permit for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1. The plant still needs a separate operating license. A construction permit does not allow it to make electricity. The NRC’s project page tracks the review.
Gates hopes Natrium-style reactors could be built in more places in the U.S. and abroad. TerraPower is studying more units at retiring coal sites in Wyoming and Utah.
Conclusion
The Kemmerer plant targets two problems. It aims to cut carbon from power generation. It also aims to feed rising demand from AI and other heavy users.
The Natrium design stresses safety, efficiency, and cost. If built as planned, it could add jobs in Wyoming and offer a template for advanced nuclear.
Entrepreneurs can watch how Gates pairs big energy bets with the AI boom. For day-to-day AI work, see our complete guide to AI tools for entrepreneurs.
FAQ
What is TerraPower building in Wyoming?
TerraPower plans a Natrium plant in Kemmerer. Liquid sodium cools the reactor; molten salt stores heat. Work began at the site in 2024. The NRC issued a construction permit in March 2026. The plant still needs an operating license to make power.
What role does AI play in TerraPower’s reactor plans?
TerraPower and SoftServe showed an AI digital twin for design work in March 2026. It is a computer model of the plant. TerraPower says it could speed design checks. It is still in development and does not show how an operating reactor performs.
Why is Bill Gates investing in nuclear power?
Gates backs TerraPower to provide carbon-free electricity. The company also hopes to meet rising demand from AI and data centers.
Resources
Articles and Reports
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NPR: Bill Gates’ Nuclear Bet: Powering U.S. Homes, Businesses, and AI
- NPR covers the plant’s design, costs, and possible role in meeting demand from AI and homes.
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Business Standard: Ready to put billions into nuclear power project in Wyoming Bill Gates
- Reports on Gates’ investment, the project timeline, and its fuel supply.
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Al Jazeera: Bill Gates to build next-generation nuclear facility in Wyoming
- Explains TerraPower’s plant plans and PacifiCorp’s role.
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- Reports on the 2024 groundbreaking and the proposed plant design.
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CF Public: Bill Gates is going nuclear: How his latest project could power U.S. homes and AI
- Covers how the project could meet power demand from AI and data centers.
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CNN: Bill Gates explains his vision for nuclear power
- Gates discusses fuel supply and how nuclear power could compete with natural gas.
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- Reports on Gates’ visit to Kemmerer and local views of the project.
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Newsweek: Construction Starts On ‘Revolutionary’ Bill Gates Nuclear Project
- Reports on the groundbreaking and the proposed plant design.
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Business Insider: Bill Gates Says Nuclear Power Has ‘Impressive’ Bipartisan Support
- Gates discusses bipartisan support for nuclear power.
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Christian Science Monitor: Bill Gates is building a cleaner, cheaper nuclear power plant
- Explains the plant’s design, projected cost, and possible emissions benefits.
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Quartz: Bill Gates is ready to spend ‘billions more’ on nuclear power
- Reports on Gates’ plans to invest more in the plant.
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YouTube: Bill Gates says there’s ‘impressive’ support for nuclear power amid climate change
- Gates discusses support for nuclear power and its climate role.
- Reports on Kemmerer as the chosen site and the project timeline.
- Covers Gates’ visit to Kemmerer and local responses.
- Reports on how the project could affect Kemmerer.
- Reports on the groundbreaking and the plant’s possible effects.
- Reports on Gates’ investment plans and the Wyoming plant.
- Summarizes the plant plan and its possible effect on power supply.
- Covers Gates’ investment and the plant’s possible role in supplying power for AI.
- GeekWire: ‘Just watch us’: Gates-backed TerraPower is bullish on being the first next-gen nuclear plant in U.S.
- TerraPower discusses its goal of opening the first next-generation U.S. plant.
Videos and Interviews
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CNN: Bill Gates on Fareed Zakaria GPS
- Gates discusses fuel supply and Wyoming’s nuclear project.
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YouTube: Bill Gates discusses nuclear power and AI
- Gates discusses nuclear power’s potential role in meeting AI demand.
Government and Industry Reports
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U.S. Department of Energy: Advanced Nuclear Energy Projects
- Lists advanced nuclear projects backed by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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BloombergNEF: Nuclear Energy and Climate Change
- Discusses nuclear power and climate goals.
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COP28 Climate Change Conference: Nuclear Energy Declaration
- A 2023 declaration in which 25 nations called for tripling nuclear capacity.
Books and Publications
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Energy and Civilization: A History by Vaclav Smil
- Traces the history of energy use, including nuclear power.
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The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World by Daniel Yergin
- Examines energy security and the global energy system.
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- Discusses nuclear power in national climate plans.
Websites and Online Resources
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- TerraPower’s official site covers its projects, including Natrium.
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- PacifiCorp’s official site covers its energy projects.
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- The NRC tracks nuclear plant safety reviews and licensing.
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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- The IAEA publishes nuclear safety guidance and research.
