TerraPower Natrium nuclear project development

The Natrium Demonstration Project in Kemmerer, Wyoming, has undergone significant organizational shifts. In September 2026, Bechtel announced its departure from the project due to a failure to reach an agreement with TerraPower on the next phase of development. This separation resulted in approximately 200 layoffs at Bechtel’s nuclear engineering headquarters in Virginia, though the company intended to transition many workers to other global projects.

Despite the exit of Bechtel, TerraPower confirmed that construction would continue using existing subcontractors and commercial-grade services while the company re-bids the engineering, procurement, and construction contract. By October 2026, TerraPower had officially begun construction on the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 following authorization from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The $4 billion project utilizes a liquid sodium cooling design and includes a molten salt energy storage system. Supported by up to $2 billion in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy, the facility is expected to begin operations between 2030 and 2031, utilizing existing infrastructure from the retiring Naughton coal plant.