Nuclear energy approvals are thawing after recent government actions

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission unanimously approved construction for a TerraPower reactor in Wyoming, the first such approval in nearly a decade. The article notes Congress passed the Advance Act in June 2024 and that the company still needs an operating license.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave a unanimous vote to approve construction of a new reactor in Wyoming, the first construction approval in nearly a decade. The project is linked to TerraPower, which the article says is backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and plans to use liquid sodium as a coolant rather than water. The NRC completed a safety evaluation last year, but the company still needs to obtain an operating license before the reactor can run. The article places the approval against recent policy changes, including the Advance Act passed by Congress in June 2024 to reduce procedural delays. Key points: - The article reports the NRC unanimously approved construction of a TerraPower reactor in Wyoming. - The approval is described as the first U.S. construction approval in nearly ten years. - The article notes TerraPower is backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and plans to use liquid sodium as a coolant. - The NRC completed a safety evaluation for the design last year, according to the article. - The article notes Congress passed the Advance Act in June 2024 to streamline regulatory reviews. - The article mentions China began testing a sodium-cooled reactor in 2023. Summary: The article frames the decision as a sign that long-standing delays in U.S. nuclear reviews may be easing, citing legislative reforms and private tech backing as contributing factors. The company still needs an operating license; the timeline for that step is undetermined at this time.