KEY POINTS
-
TerraPower started construction on Kemmerer Unit 1 in Wyoming, which the company describes as the first U.S. utility‑scale advanced nuclear power plant, following approval of a construction permit by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
-
The Natrium plant will use a 345 MW sodium‑cooled fast reactor paired with molten‑salt energy storage that can temporarily boost output to 500 MW, providing flexible, low‑carbon power to the grid, according to TerraPower.
-
Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, the project is expected to peak at about 1,600 construction workers and support roughly 250 permanent jobs.
TerraPower has begun full construction on Kemmerer Unit 1, its flagship Natrium advanced nuclear power plant in southwest Wyoming, after securing a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
According to a statement from TerraPower, the project is on track to be the first utility‑scale advanced nuclear power plant in the United States.
Project Launch and Purpose
The construction start follows years of design, licensing, and site‑prep work at a greenfield site near the retiring Naughton coal‑fired power plant. TerraPower has framed the Wyoming project as a “next generation” replacement for legacy thermal power, pairing nuclear baseload with fast‑response energy storage in a single facility.
Nuclear baseload is the continuous, minimum level of electricity demand that nuclear power plants are designed to supply reliably and economically.
A rendering of a TerraPower Natrium advanced nuclear power plant. The company framed the Wyoming project as a “next generation” replacement for legacy thermal power, pairing nuclear baseload with fast‑response energy storage in a single facility. Image: TerraPower
Reactor and Storage Design
Kemmerer Unit 1 will use TerraPower’s Natrium technology, built around a 345‑megawatt sodium‑cooled fast reactor and an integrated molten‑salt energy storage system.
The storage system is designed to shift heat from the reactor to the grid when needed, allowing temporary boosts in output to 500 MW, which the company equates to serving about 400,000 homes.
According to TerraPower, the configuration is intended to run as steady baseload most of the time while ramping quickly to follow peaks in demand and complement variable wind and solar resources.
The company also highlights the design’s low‑pressure coolant, passive safety features and separation of the nuclear “island” from the generating “energy island” as ways to simplify construction and reduce cost compared to current‑generation reactors.
TerraPower announced April 23, 2026, that it started construction on Kemmerer Unit 1, its flagship Natrium advanced nuclear power plant in southwest Wyoming, after securing a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Shown above is an image from its statement. Image: TerraPower
Program Framework and Schedule
The Kemmerer project is being delivered under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public‑private partnership aimed at bringing first‑of‑a‑kind advanced reactors into commercial service on an accelerated schedule.
TerraPower has said the ARDP award will be matched by private capital and that the Wyoming plant is targeting operation around the end of the decade.
Workforce and Regional Impact
During peak activity, TerraPower expects roughly 1,600 workers on site for construction, engineering and support. Once the plant enters commercial operation, the company projects about 250 full‑time jobs for operations, maintenance, and security.
State leaders have positioned the project as a bridge from Wyoming’s coal‑based tax and employment base toward new forms of baseload generation that still rely on the state’s energy workforce and uranium resources.
Partners and Supply Chain
Bechtel is serving as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for Kemmerer Unit 1.
The firm has said it will apply digital tools and standardized delivery processes in an effort to make the plant repeatable and set a template for future Natrium builds.
TerraPower has launched supplier outreach across major equipment, fabrication, construction trades and specialty nuclear systems to support the demonstration and potential follow‑on projects.
Fleet Ambitions and Data Center Demand
Beyond Kemmerer, TerraPower has signaled ambitions for a broader Natrium fleet. Earlier this year, the company announced a commercial agreement with Meta that contemplates development of up to eight Natrium plants in the United States to support growing power demand from data centers, subject to siting, regulatory approvals, and financing.
In its statement on the Kemmerer construction start, TerraPower called the Wyoming project a “commercial blueprint” for that future build‑out of advanced nuclear capacity.
Stay Connected
Stay connected with ConstructConnect News for construction industry news and construction market analysis to stay ahead of what’s building next.
About ConstructConnect
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.
ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com
