- Utah signed a memorandum with TerraPower and Flagship Companies to explore nuclear sites.
- The agreement supports Gov. Cox's Operation Gigawatt to double energy production by 2033.
- Natrium reactors offer unique features like sodium-cooling and molten salt storage for reliability.
SALT LAKE CITY — The state of Utah is inching closer in its pursuit of nuclear energy after officials announced Monday the search for a possible site of a Natrium reactor and potential energy storage.
The Utah Office of Energy Development, TerraPower and Flagship Companies announced they'd signed off on a memorandum of understanding that establishes a nonbinding framework for cooperation among the three entities.
The agreement supports Gov. Spencer Cox's Operation Gigawatt, a strategic effort to double Utah's energy production over the next decade.
Under the agreement, the state energy office, TerraPower and Flagship will jointly identify and assess sites for a potential advanced nuclear plant, with the goal of establishing preliminary site recommendations by the end of 2025.
Site selection will be based on an evaluation of a variety of factors including community support, the physical characteristics of the site, the ability of the site to obtain a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and access to existing infrastructure.
"Today marks an important step forward for energy in Utah," Cox said.
"Operation Gigawatt is about adding capacity from diverse sources — nuclear, natural gas, geothermal and more — so families and businesses have power that is affordable, reliable and clean. This agreement with TerraPower will help keep rates low, strengthen our grid and ensure Utah's future can be as strong as our past," he said.
"Utah must lead in developing energy solutions that are affordable, reliable and clean," said Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah.
"Exploring advanced nuclear technology aligns with our commitment to energy independence and reflects the kind of forward-thinking policy our state, and nation, needs," he said.
What is unique about a Natrium reactor?
The Natrium technology features a 345 megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system.
The storage technology can boost the system's output to 500 megawatts of power when needed as it is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring reliability, and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks — it is the only advanced reactor design with this type of feature.
The Natrium reactor has the added benefit of using significantly less water than the current light water reactor fleet and small modular reactor designs, making it well suited for water-constrained regions, such as Utah and other parts of the West.
Last year, the company broke ground on a Natrium reactor in Wyoming near the site of the Naughton Power Plant, which is slated to convert from coal to natural gas in 2026.
According to UtilityDive, the Wyoming demonstration project "is intended to validate the design, construction and operational features of the Natrium technology" while operating as "a fully functioning commercial power plant," TerraPower said. TerraPower developed the reactor in partnership with GE Hitachi.
Bill Gates is the founder and chairman of TerraPower. He is also the co-founder of Microsoft.
"TerraPower is excited to collaborate with Utah leaders and communities to explore how Natrium plants can help Utah achieve its economic and energy goals," said Chris Levesque, president and chief executive officer of TerraPower. "Our Natrium reactor and energy storage system is well-suited for the Mountain West, and will play a vital role in ensuring a reliable grid for future generations."
Flagship Companies, a Utah-based land development firm, will provide access to relevant land data and assist in identifying and evaluating potential candidate sites for reactor development.
Craig Cannon, partner at Flagship Companies, added, "We're proud to be part of a forward-looking initiative that aligns land development with next-generation energy solutions. This memorandum reflects a model for private-public collaboration in building the infrastructure of the future."
Emy Lesofski, executive director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, said the next generation nuclear technology can help meet power needs.
"We look forward to working with our local communities, utilities, large energy users and other partners as we identify and evaluate potential sites," Lesofski said.
