NRC Issues First Commercial Reactor Construction Approval in 10 Years For TerraPower in Wyoming

 

No: 26-028 March 4, 2026 CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200 NRC Issues First Commercial Reactor Construction Approval in 10 Years For TerraPower in Wyoming ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized the staff to issue TerraPower’s subsidiary, US SFR Owner, a construction permit for the company’s Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 commercial nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. “This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering timely, predictable decisions grounded in a rigorous and independent safety review,” NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said. This is the first commercial reactor the NRC has approved for construction in nearly a decade and the first approval for a non-light water reactor in more than 40 years. NRC staff finished their technical review of this new design in less than 18 months. Following a streamlined mandatory hearing process, the Commission authorized its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to issue the permit, having found the staff’s review of the Kemmerer application adequate to make the necessary regulatory safety and environmental findings. The staff expects to issue the permit soon. TerraPower filed the application in March 2024, requesting a permit to build the sodium-cooled, advanced reactor design on a site near an existing coal-fired power plant. The NRC staff accepted the application and began formal review in May 2024. The 345-megawatt electric (MWe) plant includes an energy storage system to temporarily boost output up to 500 MWe when needed. US SFR Owner would need to submit a separate operating license application, and the NRC staff would need to approve it before the facility could operate. More information about new reactor licensing is available on the NRC website. The NRC staff issued its safety evaluation for the permit in December 2025, and the final environmental impact statement for the site in October 2025.   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.

 26-028.pdf