It appears nuclear power is coming to Wyoming just down the road in the western part of the state. In October 2020, the US Department of Energy, through its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, awarded TerraPower $80 million in initial funding to demonstrate the Natrium technology.
TerraPower signed the cooperative agreement with Department of Energy in May, and to date, Congress has appropriated $160 million for the program and the Department of Energy has committed additional funding in the coming years, subject to appropriations. This week, PacifiCorp and TerraPower announced the selection of Kemmerer, Wyoming at a retiring coal plant for the site of the NatriumTM advanced nuclear reactor.
The advanced energy demonstration project is intended to validate the design, construction, and operational features of the Natrium system, which is a TerraPower and GE Hitachi technology. Wyoming Energy Authority’s Executive Director Dr. Glen Murrell Reacted to the announcement saying, “Wyoming’s deep energy expertise and veteran energy workers are poised and ready to meet this opportunity.”
