---
title: "Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Wins Historic US Approval For Natrium Reactor As Trump Pushes Nuclear Power Expansion"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/277902802.md"
description: "The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the construction of a Natrium reactor by Bill Gates' TerraPower, marking the first commercial reactor approval in nearly a decade. This 345-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor will be built in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and includes an energy storage system. The approval aligns with President Trump's push to expand nuclear power, with tech giants like Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google increasing investments in nuclear energy. The Natrium reactor will utilize high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for improved efficiency, despite some concerns regarding costs and fuel security."
datetime: "2026-03-05T07:14:10.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/277902802.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/277902802.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/277902802.md)
---

# Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Wins Historic US Approval For Natrium Reactor As Trump Pushes Nuclear Power Expansion

On Wednesday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved construction of a small nuclear reactor backed by **Bill Gates'** clean-energy company **TerraPower**.

## **US Nuclear Regulator Clears TerraPower's Advanced Reactor**

The approval marks the first time in nearly a decade that U.S. regulators have cleared construction of a new commercial nuclear reactor.

The project will involve a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor, known as the Natrium design, planned for construction in Kemmerer.

According to regulators, the facility will include an integrated energy storage system capable of temporarily increasing electricity output to about 500 megawatts.

By comparison, many traditional nuclear plants generate roughly 1 gigawatt, or about 1,000 megawatts.

## **New Nuclear Push Under Trump**

The approval comes as President Trump seeks to significantly expand the nation's nuclear power capacity.

Last year, Trump issued executive orders aimed at accelerating the federal permitting process for nuclear projects.

The NRC said its technical review of the TerraPower design was completed in less than 18 months.

> #NRCNews: We've issued the first commercial reactor construction approval in 10 years for TerraPower's Kemmerer Power Station in Wyoming. https://t.co/p3RBPYj3qu pic.twitter.com/sFm5Yj9snS
> 
> — NRC (@NRCgov) March 4, 2026

## **HALEU Fuel And SMR Debate**

The Natrium reactor is designed to run on high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, a fuel enriched to nearly 20%, significantly higher than the roughly 5% used in most reactors today, Reuters reported.

Supporters say HALEU improves efficiency and enables smaller reactor designs, often called small modular reactors or SMR.

Critics, however, argue these systems may struggle to match the cost advantages of larger nuclear plants and raise concerns about fuel security and proliferation risks.

## **Nvidia, Google Join Growing Nuclear Power Push**

Last year, **NVentures**, the venture capital arm of **Nvidia Corp** (NASDAQ:NVDA), joined a $650 million funding round supporting TerraPower.

TerraPower has also signed an agreement to supply nuclear electricity to **Sabey Data Centers**, reflecting a broader push toward nuclear energy in the tech sector.

Companies including **Amazon.com, Inc.** (NASDAQ:AMZN), **Microsoft Corp** (NASDAQ:MSFT) and **Alphabet Inc.'s** (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) **Google** have also announced nuclear-related partnerships or initiatives.

Nvidia's Growth ranks in the 98th percentile in **Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings**, signaling a strong long-term uptrend, though its short- and mid-term price trend appears weaker.

**_Disclaimer_:** _This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors._

_Photo Courtesy: Alexandros Michailidis on Shutterstock.com_

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