Utah, TerraPower Explore Sites for Advanced Nuclear Reactor

Utah is advancing its pursuit of nuclear energy by partnering with Bill Gates-backed TerraPower and Flagship Companies to explore potential sites for a Natrium advanced nuclear reactor and energy storage plant. The Utah Office of Energy Development, TerraPower, and Flagship signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly assess locations, aiming to provide preliminary site recommendations by the end of 2025. This initiative supports Governor Spencer Cox's Operation Gigawatt, a strategy to double the state's energy production over the next decade with diverse sources including nuclear power. TerraPower's Natrium technology uses molten sodium cooling, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional nuclear plants, with the first plant underway in Wyoming expected to start in 2030. Despite some public skepticism in Utah towards nuclear facilities, state leadership emphasizes the critical need for reliable, affordable, and clean energy to meet growing demand, particularly from energy-intensive data centers. The project is positioned as a forward-thinking effort to enhance energy independence and grid stability in Utah and the Western U.S.