Their first demonstration reactor is scheduled to go online in 2031. But they’re going to build 8 production reactors, with all the regulatory hurdles, in any reasonable length of time? Right.

The headline should probably be, “Meta invests in nuclear startup” and leave it there. My guess is this deal is quietly swept under the rug when the first reactor fails to go fully online by 2032.

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mpweiher 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

While Wyoming is a demonstration plant, it is a demonstration plant of exactly the reactor they plan to build in series.

And they have received NRC approval.

https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-the-nrc-issues-con...

So not sure what additional regulatory hurdles you see. Can you enlighten us?

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capnrefsmmat 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

From your link,

> TerraPower must still complete construction, submit an operating license application, and satisfy all applicable safety and regulatory requirements before loading fuel and beginning operations.

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nine_k 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Basically the built plant must pass a rigorous inspection before starting operations. But for that the plant needs to be built!

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bronson an hour ago | parent [-]

And built well, which has been a source of big delays in the past.

	▲	devmor 41 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		And I’m sure no corners will be cut!

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AngryData an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I mean that doesn't sound like very big hurdles. It is an inspection of a completed reactor to make sure it wasn't managed and built like trash. Every factory and business and powerplant is subject to an inspection before it can operate. Even most residentual homes require an inspection before people can live in it.

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lazide an hour ago | parent [-]

It is what typically all reactors get stuck on for years - or often decades.

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mpweiher an hour ago | parent [-]

I doubt it.

There used to be separate construction and operating permits, and sometimes you got the building permit, built the plant and then never got the operating license.

This has now been streamlined with a combined construction/operating license. If you built what you promised to build, you get to operate it.

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devmor 39 minutes ago | parent [-]

Can you give an example of a plant that has been built under this streamlined process and what kind of timeline it had?

The only recent nuclear buildouts that I personally have knowledge of are expansions to existing plants and thus have a lower barrier to get going.

	▲	lazide 26 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Since it was just released, that’s pretty hard to do eh? I’m familiar with the reactors built on other previous ‘expedited’ processes that ended up being anything but fast. We’ll see how it goes eh?

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Danox an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It will be quietly canceled in about two years….

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chermi an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's the permit/approval for the pilot/test, right? There are about a million approvals they need to get through. Are they using the DoE fast tracking method?

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thinkcontext an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Is it not possible that they build the first one and things don't go smoothly and they need to make some adjustments for subsequent builds?

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TiredOfLife 2 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

They must investigate how it affects the whales. But won't be told which whales and where

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srmatto an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Didn't the Trump admin put in the same lawyer who helped Uber to "reform" the NRC? I can't find the Bloomberg article but they made it sound like they were going to gut the NRC. To be clear I am not endorsing this, but I read that was happening or they were at least trying.