A pioneering nuclear power project backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is on the verge of breaking new ground in the American West, but not without stirring deep-seated anxieties among the locals who will live in its shadow.
A Pioneering Project Meets Public Apprehension
TerraPower, the company Gates founded in 2006, has begun initial construction on a 44-acre site in Kemmerer, Wyoming, a town of roughly 2,000 residents. The goal is to build the first Natrium nuclear power plant in the western hemisphere, a design that uses liquid sodium instead of water to cool its reactors. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its final safety evaluation in December 2024, finding no issues that would prevent issuing a construction permit. A decisive vote by the five-member commission is expected by 26 January 2025 at the earliest.
TerraPower aims to have the 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor operational by 2030, claiming it can boost output to 500 MW during peak demand. Based on Environmental Protection Agency averages, this could power over 400,000 homes—nearly double the number of households in Wyoming. The company selected Wyoming, it says, due to the state's transition from coal and the strong backing from local leaders.
Divided Opinions: Jobs vs. 'Guinea Pig' Fears
State officials have welcomed the project. Republican Governor Mark Gordon praised the public-private partnership in June 2024, while Senator Cynthia Lummis highlighted the projected 1,600 construction jobs and 250 permanent positions. "This facility will provide the reliable baseload energy our nation needs," Lummis stated, calling it "a win-win for Wyoming."
However, these promises have failed to reassure a significant number of residents. "Wyoming is being used as a guinea pig for this nuclear experiment," said Steve Helling, 72, from Casper. He and others question why an experimental plant is being sited in a sparsely populated state with abundant existing energy resources. Patrick Lawien, also from Casper, voiced fears of a catastrophic incident, noting, "We're probably two hours away... if anything goes wrong, it's headed straight for us."
Scientific Scrutiny and Design Controversies
The scientific community is split. While the NRC has endorsed the project as a step forward for innovative reactor designs, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has raised serious alarms. In a December 2024 statement, the group criticised TerraPower's plan to forgo a traditional concrete containment dome in favour of an unproven "functional containment" system.
Dr Edwin Lyman, UCS's director of nuclear power safety, labelled the Kemmerer plant a potential "Cowboy Chernobyl." He warned that the liquid sodium coolant could catch fire and that the reactor design has "inherent instabilities." TerraPower counters that the reactors will operate at 350 degrees Celsius, well below sodium's boiling point.
Further concern stems from an expedited review process, accelerated by an executive order from former President Donald Trump in May 2025. The review was completed nine months early, fuelling suspicions of a rushed safety assessment. Despite likely receiving the construction permit, TerraPower must still secure a separate operating licence from the NRC.
For sceptics like Steve Helling, the long-term issue of nuclear waste disposal looms large. With no permanent US storage solution, he fears Wyoming will be left with a toxic legacy. "I wonder," he asked, "why would the people of Wyoming risk it all for an experimental nuclear power plant?" As the final regulatory vote approaches, the debate in Wyoming encapsulates the global tension between the push for advanced, low-carbon energy and the profound, local fear of the unknown.
