Wyoming celebrates 'nuclear Renaissance' as feds approve license for a reactor
5 hours ago
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- TerraPower's advanced nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, marks a 'nuclear renaissance' as the first of a new generation approved for construction in the U.S.
- The project aims to address rising energy demands from AI-driven data centers, forecasted to require 130% more energy by 2030.
- Bill Gates-founded TerraPower partners with big tech and the federal government, with the Biden administration covering half of the $2 billion construction costs.
- New reactor technology uses liquid sodium cooling and underground placement, enhancing safety and reducing waste compared to legacy plants.
- Wyoming and neighboring Rocky Mountain states like Idaho and Utah actively court nuclear projects, with Utah applying for a DOE nuclear hub for fuel enrichment and waste recycling.
- Environmentalists question the 'green' label for nuclear, citing concerns over radioactive waste storage and historical impacts on communities like those near the Great Salt Lake.
- Kemmerer, a former coal town, welcomes the project for job creation and economic revival, while the old coal plant partially converts to natural gas to preserve jobs.
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval reflects a shift from past NIMBYism, with communities now competing for nuclear facilities.