(VANITY) First US Based IV Generation Nuclear Power Plant to come online in 2026

Miscellaneous | 10/27/2025 | rlmorel

[rlmorel]

I have long been a proponent of the deep exploitation of nuclear power, and watched this video today from Bill Whittle titled: LINK: It’s Atom-Splitting Time! that tipped me off to what is afoot on this front, and it is the first IV Generation Nuclear Power plant scheduled to be built and operated in the United States by 2026...next year!

I would like to hear opinions here on Free Republic from our members who have experience in the field, are interested, or simply wish to comment, since I believe this is our path forward. I don't advocate this for "green" purposes (though nuclear power is indeed that) and we have been neglecting this for decades. I thought this has the potential for excellent discourse on the subject. Personally, I have had no direct participation in the industry, though I did work in Nuclear Medicine for years, so I understand the nature, handling, and safety of radioactivity better than most, as well as the truths and largely spread lies about it.

The Trump Administration publicly stated its goals in an Executive Order signed in May 2025 to: Reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): In May 2025, the administration signed executive orders to significantly speed up nuclear reactor licensing, including establishing an 18-month deadline for the construction and operation of new reactors. It also aims to modernize regulatory standards and reconsider license terms to enable longer operation for existing plants.

(NOTE: The other components of this Trump EO address expansion of nuclear capacity, prioritizing federal loans and guarantees to restart closed plants and complete unfinished construction projects, facilitating power uprates for existing reactors, supporting the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), domestic fuel production and waste management, national security and AI infrastructure, workforce development, and last (but not least) the promotion of exports to compete for commercial projects worldwide.)

Basically, it is fast tracking nuclear power.

The bureaucracy was so slow from the NRC, EPA, DOE, etc. that the byzantine nature of it, in conjunction with the environmentalists and legal system roadblocks, that it made exploitation of nuclear power, all but impossible, with permits taking decades and environmental and other legal challenges designed solely to kill nuclear power.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: doe; energy; epa; natura; nuclear; reactor; vanity; vanitypostedinnews

[rlmorel]

Here are some specifics about the Natura Resources project, full disclosure, I asked AI to summarize it for me to make it easier, and from what I see it is relatively accurate, so if anyone sees errors or inconsistencies, feel free to offer corrections or clarifications. Here is a link to the Natura Resources website article about this project: LINK: Natura Resources Advancing Nation’s First Gen IV Nuclear Reactor

They discuss aspects of the operational pilot, the MSR-1 (I assume it stands for "Molten Salt Reactor") and is very small, only 1 MW capacity, but it is a pilot. (NOTE: This is in contrast with Communist China (which AI apparently considers the "world leader" which is using gas-cooled units already in production. But as far as I know, safety of these is unknown, and they are not designed as the Natura Resources project is, to be safer, scaleable, and modularly produced which is what we should be aiming for.)

Here is the AI Summary, which I have edited mostly for readability:

Summary

• Natura Resources is an advanced nuclear developer leading the deployment of the first Generation IV (Gen IV) reactor in the United States. The project centers on a liquid-fueled molten salt reactor (MSR) designed for enhanced safety, efficiency, and waste reduction.

Key facts about the project

• The MSR-1 reactor. The company's initial project is the 1-megawatt (MW) MSR-1, a research and test reactor built on the campus of Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Texas.
• Timeline. Natura Resources is on schedule to begin operating the MSR-1 by 2026, a deployment timeline validated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
• Regulatory approval. In September 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted a construction permit for the MSR-1. This was the first permit issued by the NRC for a liquid-fueled advanced reactor.
• Commercial application. The MSR-1 is intended to pave the way for the larger, commercial-scale Natura MSR-100, a 100-MW system with a modular design.
• Project funding. The project has been backed by significant investment, including $120 million in private funding and a $120 million commitment from the state of Texas.

Advantages of Natura's Generation IV reactor

• Compared to conventional nuclear technology, Natura's MSR design offers several benefits:
• Superior safety: The reactor operates at high temperatures but low pressure, which reduces mechanical stress and greatly minimizes the risk of catastrophic failure.
• Lower waste: It produces significantly less radioactive waste than traditional nuclear reactors and has the capability to use recycled waste fuel.
• Multiple applications: Beyond electricity generation, the technology can be used for desalinating water, which is critical in arid regions like the Permian Basin of Texas. The liquid fuel also allows for the harvesting of rare medical isotopes used in cancer treatments.
• Flexible power generation: The reactor is capable of dynamic load-following and long-duration energy storage. This allows it to more effectively complement intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.
• It is a scaleable, modular design, made to be mass produced and shipped by truck or rail to installation sites.

As you can surmise, I am excited about this. Comments?

[Lockbox]

AUSA NEWS: Army, Energy Department to Deploy Small Nuclear Reactors on Military Installations

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/10/14/ausa-news-army-announces-program-to-bring-small-nuclear-reactors-to-military-installations

Seems to be a reason the US Military is heading in that direction.

[proust]

Great news. It’s about time.

“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else,” -attributed to Churchill.

[rktman]

They just blew up the cooling towers on a shut down plant in germaneeeeeeee! Fookin’ idjits!

[Tell It Right]

As soon as that nuclear tech is usable and we start depending on it, the left will try to shut it down.

[ConservativeMind]

Molten salt has been a design I’ve wanted to see done here. I did not know we had it, anywhere.

Go Abilene Christian University!

[TangoLimaSierra]

The reactor is capable of dynamic load-following and long-duration energy storage.

Any idea how the energy storage thing works?

[Ezekiel]

Basically, it is fast tracking nuclear power.

Hopefully with a better track record than Operation Warp Speed.

To bureaucrats, efficiency = corner-cutting time.

[TexasGator]

The headline and video state it to be a power plant. It does not produce electricity thus will NOT come “online”.

[Carl Vehse]

The bureaucratic, environmentalist, and legalistic roadblocks were put in by deepstate anti-nuke kakistocrats to increase the costs, the plans to develop nuclear power, and relieve radical leftwing politicians from having to publicly oppose nuclear power when ranting about global warming.

During the Traitorobama regime, the deepstaters in the NRC added a requirement that any high-level nuclear waste repository be proven to be safe for one million years (since the 1980s, the safety requirement had been only for 10,000 years). A large meteorite hit, ice age, or a Yellowstone supervolcano could occur in the next 1 Myr.

In a million years, the Demonicrats in the Senate may still not be voting for the House-passed spending bill.

[PGR88]

For years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been a bastion of leftist environmentalism, and many commentators have said its real job for the past 30 years has been to HINDER development of nuclear energy in the USA.

Looking at results, that seems to be an accurate statement

Trump gutting/reforming it will have huge, positive consequences.

I am not familiar with Natura Resources, but other small modular reactor companies, with deep-pocketed investors, are coming into the space. That can only mean advancing technology, faster development, and lower energy costs.

All good.

[Openurmind]

My Cuz is Nuclear certified and worked at the Palo Verde plant and then the Solar Plant at Ivanpah Nv until he retired. He always said many small ones rather than one big one is the way to go.

[Billthedrill]

As I understand it the NRC still does not have a mechanism for regulating (i.e. approving) reprocessing in the United States. How much that hinders the development of commercial MSRs remains to be seen. (It would certainly improve our current antiquated nuclear waste storage practices.) More later after FReepers closer to the action chime in.

[CapandBall]

“Natura Resources LLC” is not a publicly traded company.

Any word on a pending IPO?

[EQAndyBuzz]

Whatever the fence line to the plant is, add a mile in all directions for better security.

[FreedomPoster]

Ping

[Gay State Conservative]

later

[Paladin2]

I’m guessing molten salt......

[lgjhn23]

“...As soon as that nuclear tech is usable and we start depending on it, the left will try to shut it down....”

Without a doubt....we can take it to the bank because we all know they’re fricken’ morons. The AWFULs, the low-IQ and other communist influencers will see to it that the USA NOT be able to thrive....just as they have in the past.
The question is: Have we learned enough lessons regarding these useless basstids to just ignore em and carry on as if they didn’t exist? Because that’s what it’s gonna take...short of outright deporting em to Mars.

[pa_dweller]

It’ll sure be handy for running all the server farms going up.