The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a construction permit for TerraPower’s advanced nuclear reactor facility in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This approval allows TerraPower to begin building a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor near an existing coal-fired power plant.
Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) welcomed the NRC’s decision, highlighting Wyoming’s role in the energy sector. “Wyoming is the energy capital of America. We are also the number one producer of uranium in the country,” said Senator Barrasso. “That’s why Wyoming is the right place to build modern nuclear energy infrastructure that provides safe, affordable, and reliable energy. This groundbreaking project is another way to help diversify Wyoming’s already strong energy economy.”
Nuclear power supplies almost 20 percent of U.S. electricity and is currently the largest source of carbon-free energy in the nation. Wyoming leads the country in uranium production and holds significant reserves, including those in the Powder River Basin.
TerraPower submitted its application for this advanced reactor design to the NRC in May 2024. By December 2025, NRC staff recommended that the Commission approve issuing a construction permit.
Senator Barrasso has recently sponsored legislation affecting uranium imports and domestic fuel security. In 2024, his Reduce Russian Uranium Imports Act was signed into law, banning imports of certain types of uranium from Russia or Russian entities into the United States. In 2023, Barrasso’s Nuclear Fuel Security Act became law as part of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring the Department of Energy to focus on increasing domestic low-enriched uranium production and ensuring supply for advanced reactors.
