TerraPower LLC, the nuclear energy firm backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has become the first U.S. developer of an advanced nuclear power plant to seek a federal construction and operation permit to test its technology at commercial scale.
The firm submiited an application in late March to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its Natrium advanced nuclear demonstration project, with plans to begin non-nuclear work at the site of a retiring Wyoming coal plant this summer and nuclear construction once the application is approved.