"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted approval to TerraPower to begin construction of a reactor in Wyoming. The project is the first new US commercial nuclear reactor in about a decade, according to The New York Times. TerraPower was founded by Bill Gates, and it took years for the business to receive regulatory approval for this construction effort."
"TerraPower is part of a push to create more efficient and less expensive nuclear facilities as an alternative power source, particularly as AI companies and data center construction places more demands on the US' current infrastructure. TerraPower's project involves tech it has dubbed Natrium in its planned reactor. Using this liquid sodium approach rather than a traditional light-water reactor is part of how the company aims to reduce costs and time frames."
"Advocates see nuclear reactors as a way to generate power without the climate impact of coal or gas plants. Critics point to the safety risks as a severe downside to this approach, while others question whether the creation and disposal of nuclear waste counter the environmental gains."
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates, to construct a new commercial nuclear reactor in Wyoming. This marks the first new US commercial nuclear reactor in approximately a decade. TerraPower's project utilizes Natrium technology, employing liquid sodium instead of traditional light-water reactor systems to reduce construction costs and timelines. The $4 billion facility addresses increasing power demands from AI companies and data center expansion. Supporters view nuclear energy as a clean alternative to coal and gas plants, while critics raise concerns about safety risks and nuclear waste disposal. The reactor is expected to become operational by 2031, though it faces ongoing logistical challenges.
Read at Engadget
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