A nuclear reactor, financially supported by Bill Gates and controversially labeled "Cowboy Chernobyl" by its opponents, is rapidly moving towards approval in rural Wyoming. This has raised concerns among local residents and nuclear safety experts, particularly as the project is being expedited under a directive from the Trump administration.
TerraPower, the company founded by Gates, is in pursuit of federal authorization to construct the first Natrium nuclear reactor in the western hemisphere. This facility is planned for Kemmerer, a small coal-mining town with a population of around 2,000, located near the Utah border and approximately two hours north of Salt Lake City.
The proposed reactor will utilize liquid sodium for cooling instead of traditional water, which proponents argue makes it a safer and more efficient design. However, critics contend that this approach introduces new risks and compromises on essential containment measures.
In December, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concluded its final safety assessment, finding no obstacles to issuing a construction permit for the reactor. The five-member commission is anticipated to vote on this permit soon. Nevertheless, TerraPower must also secure a separate license to operate the reactor before it can begin functioning.
Local inhabitants have expressed their discomfort with how quickly the process is unfolding. Patrick Lawien, a resident from Casper, shared his worries, stating, "We’re probably two hours away from that place when it comes to how long it takes for the wind to get here. Obviously, if anything goes wrong, it’s headed straight for us."
Construction of the non-nuclear segment of the 44-acre site began in June 2024, situated close to the now-defunct Naughton coal plant, which ceased operations at the end of 2025. TerraPower asserts that the reactor will produce 345 megawatts of electricity, with the capability to increase output to 500 megawatts during peak demand periods. The company aims to have the reactor operational by 2030.
Wyoming officials have welcomed this initiative as the state looks to pivot away from coal dependency. In 2024, Republican Governor Mark Gordon hailed the project as "first-of-its-kind," emphasizing the collaboration between government entities and the private sector.
Senator Cynthia Lummis has pointed out the economic benefits, highlighting that the project is expected to create around 1,600 temporary construction jobs and 250 permanent positions.
Despite these optimistic projections, watchdog organizations are voicing significant concerns regarding the speed of the project. The Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit organization focused on scientific advocacy, argues that the design proposed by TerraPower lacks the conventional concrete containment structures found in U.S. nuclear facilities. Instead, they suggest using "functional containment," which relies on engineered systems within the reactor to manage containment rather than employing a physical barrier.
Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety for the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the Kemmerer plant as a potential "Cowboy Chernobyl," citing the risks associated with rapid power surges and inadequate containment measures. He warned that if containment issues arise post-construction, retrofitting a traditional containment structure could be nearly impossible.
Lyman also raised concerns about the risks associated with the sodium cooling system, noting, "Its liquid sodium coolant can ignite, and the reactor possesses inherent instabilities that might cause a swift and uncontrolled increase in power." In response, TerraPower claims that their reactor will function at a temperature of 350 degrees Celsius, significantly below the boiling point of sodium.
Fears have escalated after the NRC completed its review months ahead of its original timeline, a speed-up prompted by an executive order issued by Donald Trump in May 2025 that instructed federal bodies to accelerate the approval process for advanced nuclear reactors.
TerraPower submitted its construction permit application in March 2024 and received preliminary approval by December, much earlier than the anticipated August 2026 schedule.
For longtime Wyoming resident Steve Helling, the potential hazards outweigh the promises made by the company. He expressed concern, stating, "Wyoming is being used as a guinea pig for this nuclear experiment. We have everything I could desire—natural beauty, clean air, pristine water, wildlife, and abundant resources."
Helling is particularly worried about the long-term implications regarding the disposal of nuclear waste, as the United States still lacks a definitive solution for long-term radioactive waste storage. Some states, like California and Connecticut, have enacted bans on the construction of new nuclear plants unless the federal government establishes a comprehensive, long-term strategy for managing radioactive waste.
