INL Marks 2 Reactors Reaching Criticality as Trump Targets 3 by July 4
Updated
Updated · East Idaho News · Jun 26
INL Marks 2 Reactors Reaching Criticality as Trump Targets 3 by July 4
3 articles · Updated · East Idaho News · Jun 26
Summary
Idaho National Laboratory said two pilot reactors have already reached criticality—Antares on June 4 at INL and Valar on June 18 in Utah—prompting Energy Secretary Chris Wright to hail a U.S. nuclear “golden age.”
Trump’s Executive Order 14301 set a goal of three reactors going critical by July 4, 2026, within 14 months, and Wright said Aalo Atomics will be the next company to hit that milestone in coming days.
Aalo is developing a 10-megawatt reactor that can power about 10,000 homes, though the company said its main target is supplying data centers with clean, reliable electricity without raising nearby residents’ costs.
The Reactor Pilot Program includes 10 private nuclear companies, and INL Director John Wagner said the recent milestones are a foundation for a broader push toward 400 gigawatts of U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050.
As America fast-tracks new reactors, are safety rules being compromised for speed?
Can new nuclear reactors truly solve the volatile energy needs of AI data centers?
With Yucca Mountain off the table, what is the plan for the next generation of nuclear waste?
U.S. Advanced Nuclear Reactors Achieve Historic Criticalities: Policy, Technology, and the Race to Commercialization in 2026
Overview
This report highlights the recent breakthroughs in advanced nuclear reactor development, focusing on the concept of criticality—the point where a reactor sustains a fission chain reaction and enables nuclear fuel to generate power. Achieving criticality is essential for normal reactor operations and marks a significant milestone, signaling rapid progress toward next-generation nuclear power. The report traces how these achievements reflect a major acceleration in the field, driven by efficient programs and innovative designs. Together, these developments underscore a pivotal shift in the pursuit of safer, more reliable, and scalable nuclear energy solutions for the future.