Bill Gates And Warren Buffet Plan To Build New Nuclear Reactor In Wyoming

Two of the world’s wealthiest men are getting together and planning to build a nuclear reactor in the state of Wyoming.

Bill Gates who is the founder of TerraPower and Warren Buffet the owner PacifiCorp will work together to establish a Natrium reactor in the state of Wyoming.

The Natrium reactor according to reports will use a “sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system capable of producing 345 megawatts of power”.

Although the two billionaires state their motive is to produce clean energy many people are skeptical of the two world’s richest men working together in the nuclear field.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett building nuclear reactor in nation's biggest coal-producing state https://t.co/Jt0AoOm03v pic.twitter.com/8CtXqDY4OD

— The Hill (@thehill) June 4, 2021

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are building a $1 billion 'next-generation' nuclear reactor in Wyoming https://t.co/jG3RVfqTCX

— Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) June 3, 2021

The Hill covered Gates and Buffett’s announcement:

A next-generation nuclear power reactor that could bolster the nation’s transition to low-carbon energy will be built on the site of a retiring coal plant in Wyoming.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) on Wednesday announced the state will house a Natrium reactor pilot project in partnership with nuclear reactor design company TerraPower, power company PacifiCorp and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

TerraPower was founded by Bill Gates about 15 years ago, and PacifiCorp is owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway.

The project will feature a sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system capable of producing 345 megawatts of power. TerraPower says the storage technology could boost the system’s output to 500 megawatts of power for more than five-and-a-half hours when needed, enough energy to power about 400,000 homes.

TerraPower says the Natrium technology is more fuel efficient, cost effective and safer than traditional nuclear reactors and could supplement existing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

“We think Natrium will be a game-changer for the energy industry,” Gates said during a news conference Wednesday.

“Wyoming has been a leader in energy for over a century and we hope our investment in Natrium will help Wyoming to stay in the lead for many decades to come,” Gates said.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to build new kind of nuclear reactor in Wyoming https://t.co/YkK4RBymAv

— The Guardian (@guardian) June 3, 2021

what could possibly go wrong… https://t.co/xA82yuEYJC

— james lorenz (@JLorenzEsq) June 3, 2021

Reuters had more on the story:

Billionaire Bill Gates’ advanced nuclear reactor company TerraPower LLC and PacifiCorp (PPWLO.PK) have selected Wyoming to launch the first Natrium reactor project on the site of a retiring coal plant, the state’s governor said on Wednesday.

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TerraPower, founded by Gates about 15 years ago, and power company PacifiCorp, owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N), said the exact site of the Natrium reactor demonstration plant is expected to be announced by the end of the year. Small advanced reactors, which run on different fuels than traditional reactors, are regarded by some as a critical carbon-free technology than can supplement intermittent power sources like wind and solar as states strive to cut emissions that cause climate change.

The project features a 345 megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten salt-based energy storage that could boost the system’s power output to 500 MW during peak power demand. TerraPower said last year that the plants would cost about $1 billion.

Late last year the U.S. Department of Energy awarded TerraPower $80 million in initial funding to demonstrate Natrium technology, and the department has committed additional funding in coming years subject to congressional appropriations.

A disaster waiting to happen.
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to build new kind of nuclear reactor in Wyoming https://t.co/9xyTfTYD2x

— Nancy Crouse (@Nancy_Crouse) June 3, 2021

The fact that two richest men are getting involved with nuclear projects is troubling to think about, what’s your take on Gates and Buffett’s decision to launch this project in the red state of Wyoming?