Bill Gates’ TerraPower on Wednesday became the first company to secure a permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to construct a full, commercial advanced nuclear reactor.
With the milestone, TerraPower can commence nuclear-related construction at its Wyoming site, which had already begun building some energy infrastructure last year. The final permit comes months ahead of the NRC’s original schedule, signaling the agency’s quickening pace on licensing and cementing TerraPower’s position as an industry leader.
“This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering timely, predictable decisions grounded in a rigorous and independent safety review,” NRC Chair Ho Nieh said in a statement.
The Trump administration has been pushing the NRC to slash the time it takes to review applications, arguing the agency has been a roadblock to past power projects. Indeed, the agency says the Wednesday permit marks the first commercial reactor construction approval in 10 years.
