The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted the first construction permit in eight years for a commercial nuclear reactor, enabling TerraPower to build its sodium‑cooled Natrium reactor in western Wyoming with construction to start within weeks and a target online date around 2030.

The Natrium project represents a historic milestone as the first commercial‑scale advanced reactor to receive this construction permit.

Critics warn about safety risks and long‑term nuclear waste disposal issues, weighing potential environmental benefits against drawbacks.

TerraPower first filed for the permit in 2024 and began site preparation the same year, marking the NRC’s first construction permit for a non‑light‑water commercial reactor in more than four decades.

Policy and supply considerations loom, including limited enriched‑uranium availability and ongoing federal discussions on spent fuel management and potential reprocessing partnerships.

Natrium uses liquid sodium cooling, a departure from traditional water‑cooled reactors, with claimed cost savings in shielding and safety features.

The design is a fast‑neutron reactor that could consume certain radioactive isotopes that would otherwise become waste in conventional reactors.

The plant’s storage system can deliver up to 500 megawatts of electricity, either as generation or stored energy, improving grid flexibility.

The Natrium reactor is smaller, aimed at lower construction costs, and pairs liquid sodium cooling with integrated energy storage to enable flexible ramping.

The project reflects a broader strategy to combine compact power output, energy storage, and renewable energy integration in advanced reactor designs.

By using sodium cooling, Natrium aims to shorten construction time and lower costs compared with traditional reactors.

TerraPower faces challenges such as potential cost overruns, fuel supply concerns, and lessons from other reactor projects that could affect schedule and budget.