TerraPower's Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming secured its U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission construction permit, marking a milestone for advanced small modular reactor development in the United States. The 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor is among the most closely watched new-build designs in the country.
The regulatory pipeline is expanding. As of early 2026, NuScale Power remained the only SMR with full NRC design certification, while TerraPower's Natrium stood as the most advanced new build in active NRC review. Developers including Oklo are also progressing sodium-cooled fast reactor designs paired with data center power agreements.
Tennessee is emerging as another hub. Kairos Power's Hermes 2 project in Oak Ridge will use Generation IV molten salt cooling technology and is designed to supply an initial 50 megawatts to the Tennessee Valley Authority system by 2030, backed by a corporate power purchase agreement signed in 2025.
Industry timelines point to the first wave of U.S. small modular reactors reaching operation in the 2029 to 2032 window, as utilities and large electricity buyers seek firm, carbon-free capacity to meet rising demand.
Source: SMR Intelligence - https://smrintel.com/smr-nrc-approval-tracker/