Kemmerer Unit 1 (Natrium)

Grid connection

PacifiCorp interconnection request for 500 MW of nuclear at the Naughton substation (queue C2-32, filed 2022, proposed online 2030); still in study at end of 2024

Permits

NRC construction permit, the first for a non-light-water commercial reactor; nuclear construction began Apr 23, 2026

Who's building it

Bechtel left as lead contractor in Sept 2026 (it is finishing the sodium test and fill facility); TerraPower is rebidding the contract and says completion stays 2030, operation 2031

Cost

$4.0B · $11,594/kWAbout $4B all-in (2021 estimate)

Sources: ans.org · datacenterknowledge.com · powermag.com · ans.org · emp.lbl.gov

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)

PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power slated to own the plant at operation; Meta separately agreed (Jan 2026) to up to eight Natrium plants

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)UTILITY BUYER

Who's financing it

DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration ProgramPUBLIC FUNDER

• Russian uranium ban → enrichment squeeze → advanced reactors

  STEP 4/6 · AT RISK HALEU is the bottleneckMost advanced designs need HALEU (5–20% enriched), with no commercial US supply at scale yet.

  STEP 5/6 · AT RISK Advanced reactor timelinesFuel availability becomes a gating item for first units.

• DOE loan review → first-of-a-kind financing gap

  STEP 4/4 · WATCH Office relaunched as Energy Dominance FinancingLending shifts toward nuclear and utility expansions (AP1000 offers, Constellation uprates).

Critical inputs

UraniumZirconium

Policy that applies

• Russian uranium import ban: waiver periodWAIVERS UNTIL 2028
• 45Y / 48E: all other clean power and storageACTIVE
• 45U: existing nuclearACTIVE
• DOE adds helium to the Critical Material ListIN EFFECT
• DOE Energy Dominance Financing: 10 large reactorsCONDITIONAL OFFERS
• DOE Energy Dominance Financing: Constellation and AlliantANNOUNCED

• powermag.com
• ans.org