The governor of Wyoming announced that Washington-based TerraPower, in collaboration with PacifiCorp, plans to build a Natrium reactor demonstration project at a retiring coal plant in Wyoming. The exact location to be announced by the end of the year and would be the site of the second U.S modular nuclear reactor. The project's goal is to prove the commercial viability of the Natrium technology, which uses a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. Small modular reactors, or advanced or modular nuclear reactors, are regarded by some as a critical carbon-free technology that power grids will need to supplement intermittent sources like wind and solar as states strive to decarbonize their power plant fleets. “This is our fastest and clearest course to becoming carbon negative,” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said. “Nuclear power is clearly a part of my all-of-the-above strategy for energy in Wyoming.” He said the plant will replace a coal-fired power plant and help Wyoming reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to use fossil fuels.
Source: Reuters-Valerie Volcovici