Bill Gates is making big changes in the small town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, with a population of just about 2,400. Gates’ company TerraPower has started building what he calls “the most advanced nuclear facility in the world” in this tiny community.
This will be the first of the so-called Natrium plants, which promise to be safer, cheaper, and more efficient than traditional nuclear power plants. It is a groundbreaking project expected to provide clean, zero-carbon energy.
Kemmerer, a town once known for its coal plant, is transforming into a center for next-generation nuclear technology. The project will provide jobs to 1,600 skilled workers and boost the local economy, with new businesses and housing developments emerging to support the growing community. It is a huge transformation for a town that relied on coal for so long. As Gates said on his blog, “It’s a huge milestone for the local economy, America’s energy independence, and the fight against climate change.”
Gates is rethinking how nuclear power is generated and believes that the Natrium plant will revolutionize the energy landscape in the U.S. and worldwide. The plant, designed by TerraPower, a company he founded in 2008, is expected to start operating by 2030.
Gates, who was the richest person in the world from 1995 to 2017, has been focusing on philanthropy, particularly vaccines, clean water, and sustainability. Due to these and other initiatives, he’s often in the spotlight and occasionally at the center of controversy