Natrona County, Wyo. – The Department of Energy chose Radiant Nuclear to be the first to test their new Kaleidos 1MW microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory. In response, the company has announced plans to relocate its first manufacturing facility to Wyoming.
President Donald Trump’s recent Executive Order (14301), which aimed to reform nuclear reactor testing at the Department of Energy, was critical in bringing a new nuclear facility to Wyoming. Radiant Nuclear, a California-based clean energy startup, has proposed establishing a new advanced manufacturing facility in Natrona County.
The Cowboy State already has the largest known uranium ore reserves in the United States, and it has been a national leader in uranium production. Dr. Rita Baranwal, Radiant’s First Chief Nuclear Officer, stated, “Wyoming has been a leader in the energy sector for decades, and we want to continue that legacy by building our factory in Natrona County.”
The proposed facility would have three primary functions: assembly, fueling, and microreactor testing. Reactors are shipped back to the factory for maintenance and refueling. It will also include temporary above-ground storage for spent nuclear fuel in concrete casks within the facility.
“What we propose is to build a factory to manufacture these reactors.” “We will use Wyoming uranium, which is processed in Wyoming and responsibly managed by the same team that produced it,” said Dr. Baranwal.
One significant advantage of the new kaleidos microreactor is its portability, which can be transported by land, air, or sea. Reactor shipments will include transport shielding. According to radiant, there have been no injuries in over 25,000 shipments of spent nuclear fuel worldwide since the 1960s. Dr. Baranwal explains, “The shipment of used fuel in this country has been ongoing for decades.”
Each reactor will be capable of producing one megawatt of power, enough to power around 1,000 homes for five years. Baranwal emphasized the reactor fuel’s compact size, comparing it to two standard propane tanks.
Residents of Bar Nunn have expressed concerns about the new facility being built just north of town. “There is absolutely no reason to keep it in a remote location. Radiant is developing a very safe reactor concept, as Dr. Baranwal explains.
TRISO is widely regarded as the safest nuclear fuel available. Radiant’s reactor design also incorporates helium as a coolant, and the facility will have a dedicated transfer bay for moving spent fuel into dry cask storage.
“Dry casks go through such rigorous testing,” Baranwal adds. “They have to withstand earthquakes, aircraft strikes, missile strikes, and any sort of weather related disaster you can conjure up.”
Radiant mentions that they consider the community to be a key investor in their project and hope to establish relationships with educational programs and organizations. Radiant already works with T3 Alaska to engage students interested in STEM. The company has stated that they want to keep Wyoming talent in the state by providing them with opportunities to advance their careers in well-paying jobs.
Radiant anticipates that the Natrona County facility will generate up to 250 new jobs during peak operations in 2035. Radiant has already reached a purchase agreement with the landowner for the facility, which will span more than 70 acres. If everything goes as planned, the factory is expected to be completed in 2028.
If approved and built, this will be Radiant’s first manufacturing facility and the first fueled operation of a new reactor design in more than 50 years. The company is currently planning to test its Kaleidos prototype at Idaho National Laboratory in Spring 2026.
“This is the moment, and this administration will make it happen. “I really want to see Wyoming at the forefront,” Baranwal stated.
She also expresses a desire to capitalize on Wyoming’s rich energy history and position the state as a leader in nuclear advancement. She adds that Radiant Nuclear wants to support President Trump’s executive orders and use their microreactors to help defend our troops.
Radiant is facing deadlines to make progress, just as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is facing deadlines to implement President Trump’s latest Executive Order (14300) to reform the agency.
Radiant Nuclear is still in the pre-application process with the NRC, which is required before reactor operations can begin.
To date (August 22, 2025), Wyoming law prohibits the storage of nuclear waste generated outside the state. Two previous efforts to amend the statute failed in committee, leaving the law unchanged.
