The Natrium® Project Receives First NRC-Issued Environmental Impact Statement for a Commercial Advanced Nuclear Power Plant
The Natrium¹ plant has achieved a key regulatory milestone – a favorable EIS from the U.S. NRC
Bellevue, WA – October 22, 2025 – TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, received notification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that they have successfully completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Natrium project being developed in Wyoming and found no adverse impact to the environment. This is the first advanced commercial nuclear power plant to achieve this regulatory milestone.
“TerraPower has been committed to bringing the next generation of nuclear power to fruition, and this announcement from the NRC is a testament to our team’s dedication and rigor in meeting all federal licensing requirements. The Natrium plant in Wyoming, Kemmerer Unit 1, is now the first advanced reactor technology to successfully complete an environmental impact statement for the NRC, bringing us another step closer to delivering America’s next nuclear power plant,” said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque.
The next step for the construction permit application (CPA) is the final safety evaluation, which is anticipated by December 31, 2025. TerraPower was the first developer to submit a CPA for a commercial advanced reactor to the NRC in March 2024. TerraPower’s regulatory strategy has been built on providing thorough technical content and robust engagement opportunities to discuss Natrium technology and design with regulators. President Trump’s Executive Orders signed in May 2025 supported the streamlining of regulatory reviews to safely deploy advanced nuclear energy in the United States.
The Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost the system’s output to 500 MWe of power when needed as it is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks — it is the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature.
The first Natrium project is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. TerraPower began construction on the non-nuclear portions of the site in June 2024. When completed, the Natrium plant will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.
About TerraPower
TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement, and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world’s most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world’s public and private sectors to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at terrapower.com.
Media Contacts
TerraPower: press@terrapower.com
1 The Natrium reactor is a TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy technology.
“TerraPower has been committed to bringing the next generation of nuclear power to fruition, and this announcement from the NRC is a testament to our team’s dedication and rigor in meeting all federal licensing requirements. The Natrium plant in Wyoming, Kemmerer Unit 1, is now the first advanced reactor technology to successfully complete an environmental impact statement for the NRC, bringing us another step closer to delivering America’s next nuclear power plant,” said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque.
The next step for the construction permit application (CPA) is the final safety evaluation, which is anticipated by December 31, 2025. TerraPower was the first developer to submit a CPA for a commercial advanced reactor to the NRC in March 2024. TerraPower’s regulatory strategy has been built on providing thorough technical content and robust engagement opportunities to discuss Natrium technology and design with regulators. President Trump’s Executive Orders signed in May 2025 supported the streamlining of regulatory reviews to safely deploy advanced nuclear energy in the United States.
The Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost the system’s output to 500 MWe of power when needed as it is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks — it is the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature.
The first Natrium project is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. TerraPower began construction on the non-nuclear portions of the site in June 2024. When completed, the Natrium plant will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.
About TerraPower
TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement, and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world’s most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world’s public and private sectors to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at terrapower.com.
Media Contacts
TerraPower: press@terrapower.com
1 The Natrium reactor is a TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy technology.