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Companies are coming to Texas to develop a new generation of nuclear reactors

Summary

Texas is emerging as a hub for advanced nuclear energy, with companies investing in next-generation reactors. Abilene-based Natura Resources and California’s Kairos Power are among the first companies with permits to build small modular reactors. Natura is constructing a 1-megawatt molten salt reactor at Abilene Christian University, while larger commercial reactors are planned for industrial sites, including Dow Chemical’s Gulf Coast complex and oilfield infrastructure in the Permian Basin. Texas A&M University is also developing an "Energy Proving Ground" to test multiple reactor designs. State leaders are pushing legislative efforts to provide billions in public financing for nuclear projects, aiming to position Texas as a leader in advanced atomic energy. However, concerns over funding, nuclear waste disposal, and regulatory challenges remain as the industry seeks to scale up.

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