Technology Bill Gates’ TerraPower gets approval to build new nuclear reactor

[Brownie2019]

Content source

https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/06/bill-gates-terrapower-gets-approval-to-build-new-nuclear-reactor/

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave TerraPower the go-ahead this week to build a new nuclear reactor in the shadow of an aging coal power plant in Wyoming.

TerraPower’s permit is the first to be issued by the NRC in nearly a decade. The startup — founded by Bill Gates in 2015 and backed by Nvidia — has been designing its Natrium reactor with GE Vernova Hitachi. The final power plant will generate 345 megawatts, which is about two-thirds smaller than modern full-size reactors, but multiple times larger than many small modular reactor designs favored by other startups.

More here:

Bill Gates’ TerraPower gets approval to build new nuclear reactor | TechCrunch

It's the first permit to be issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in nearly a decade.

techcrunch.com

 

[Halp2001]

Hi @Brownie2019, thanks for bringing this topic to the forum. I don’t usually follow social media much, but the scale of this news sparked my curiosity, so I decided to look into public opinion. Here’s what I found:

While the news is technical, the perception on social media is broadly divided into three main perspectives:

• Energy Optimism: Many see this as the necessary 'nuclear renaissance.' The backing from companies like Nvidia is being celebrated, with many interpreting that AI and clean energy must go hand-in-hand for progress to be sustainable.
• Technical Caution: There is intense debate regarding the use of liquid sodium. While some see it as a brilliant way to store heat, others are skeptical about the safety of operating a design so different from traditional water-cooled reactors.
• The Social Factor: There’s a strong trend highlighting the human element: repurposing an old coal plant into a nuclear one is seen as a smart way to support mining communities during the energy transition.

It's fascinating how a single regulatory approval can trigger such deep debates, ranging from economics to physical safety.

 

[annaegorov]

Nuclear Power doesn't worry me at all.

My father-in-law, built several of these around the world. In fact he was in charge of all the construction. I think the name of the company was Ebasco, or maybe Satsup. Not sure of the spelling. He has been dead for many years.

He once told me that in the last few years they were the safest form of energy, if built correctly (not counting Russia, and other likely candidates).

BUT with Bill Gates associated with anything, that should cause alarm, being a BIG de-populationist (as are many Libs, if not all), and a big vax guy. I'm not sure this is a good thing.