ACU gets permit to build nation’s first molten salt university research reactor

[benjamming]

ACU gets permit to build nation’s first molten salt university research reactor

"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit yesterday to Abilene Christian University, giving ACU and its partners the go-ahead to build the Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) facility on its Abilene, Texas, campus. The 1-MWt research reactor is the first molten salt–fueled reactor to get a construction permit from the NRC. After Kairos Power’s Hermes, it is the second non–light water reactor construction permit issued by the NRC."

 

[Owen Lucas]

I can see a future where these small nukes go from research phase to slightly larger, local level power supplies for AI / data centers.

A lot of these facilities are being constructed in areas with access to 2 power sources and are striking agreements for priority service from the generating facilities. I've even heard that these facilities are paying extra to get access to transformers and electrical equipment. These problems would be solved with modular mini nukes, but this is probably at least a decade away.

 

[Brons2]

I guess the Oak Ridge molten-salt reactor didn't need NRC approval because it was national security related?