{"id":36236,"date":"2026-08-10T09:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36236"},"modified":"2026-08-10T09:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:52:17","slug":"the-view-from-the-proving-grounds-for-next-generation-nuclear-reactors-atomic-city-idaho-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36236","title":{"rendered":"The view from the proving grounds for next-generation nuclear reactors, Atomic City, Idaho : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137891\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 4000;&#10;        --source-height: 2667;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Arco, Idaho is among the small towns near Idaho National Laboratory with a decades-long nuclear energy legacy.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Arco, Idaho is among the small towns near Idaho National Laboratory with a decades-long nuclear energy legacy.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Hanna Merzbach<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Hanna Merzbach<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>People still smoke indoors at the bar in Atomic City, Idaho, population 52. The walls are plastered with one dollar bills and a Don&#8217;t Tread On Me flag.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Where were you Monday?&#8221; bar and nearby race track owner Vickie O&#8217;Haro asks one of her regulars.<\/p>\n<p>O&#8217;Haro knows her customers orders without asking: cold beers or shots called atomic bombs \u2014 fitting since most of her customers work down the road at Idaho National Laboratory, or INL, America&#8217;s nuclear energy testgrounds since 1949.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/708620\/less-support-solar-wind-energy-nuclear.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><u>March Gallup poll<\/u><\/a> shows a majority of Americans still oppose a nuclear energy plant in their area, but that&#8217;s not the case here<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;\u200aI live 10 miles away, and I&#8217;m fine,&#8221; O&#8217;Haro said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not glowing in the dark, you know? There&#8217;s nothing to be scared of.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137888\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 4000;&#10;        --source-height: 2667;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2667+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2F26%2Fa71d634b48529381c6dbfec8608f%2Fdsc07699-2.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Vickie O&#8217;Haro stands behind the bar at Atomic City Bar &amp; Store, which she owns, along with Atomic Motor Raceway, on June 8, 2026. The businesses are located near Idaho National Laboratory.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>After stalling out for decades, nuclear power is having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/29\/nx-s1-5847944\/new-nuclear-reactors-america-250-safety-concerns\" target=\"_blank\"><u>a moment.<\/u><\/a> President Donald Trump fast-tracked new projects, and now a new generation of small nuclear reactors is poised to come online in the next few years.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5884029-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5847944\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/29\/nx-s1-5847944\/new-nuclear-reactors-america-250-safety-concerns\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/29\\\/nx-s1-5847944\\\/new-nuclear-reactors-america-250-safety-concerns&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1365x1365+285+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F13%2F65%2Fe0daaeb5476aa81f3476f40f2415%2Fvalar-tent.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"This photo shows a large tentlike structure that says Valar Atomics on it.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5884029-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Three companies at INL \u2014 and one in central Utah \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyomingpublicmedia.org\/natural-resources-energy\/2026-07-06\/four-nuclear-reactors-meet-trumps-critical-july-4-deadline\" target=\"_blank\"><u>switched on<\/u><\/a> new types of reactors this summer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u200aI think it&#8217;s actually pretty cool to be happening in my backyard,&#8221; O&#8217;Haro said.<\/p>\n<p>Zoom out and INL is a pretty big backyard. It&#8217;s 900 square miles of remote, sagebrush-filled high desert, almost the size of Rhode Island.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Electricity demand is skyrocketing<\/h3>\n<p>And it&#8217;s in an unassuming building here that one startup, Deployable Energy, recently took its test reactor &#8220;critical.&#8221; That means it had a sustained chain reaction for the first time, proving the design works and could someday generate electricity.<\/p>\n<p>Lance Maul, chief operating officer at Deployable Energy, described this as a &#8220;real moment in history for the nation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This could be a real turning point for the energy future,&#8221; said Maul, who has an Australian accent and was sporting a scraggly beard and a man bun.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>He said the goal isn&#8217;t your 20th century reactor: massive, expensive nuclear plants. It&#8217;s micro reactors, which could power a thousand homes versus a million.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s something deployable,&#8221; Maul said. &#8220;it&#8217;s something that you can put on the back of a truck. It is a fundamentally different proposition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5884029-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5798892\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/05\/02\/nx-s1-5798892\/wyoming-celebrates-nuclear-renaissance-as-feds-approve-license-for-a-new-reactor\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/02\\\/nx-s1-5798892\\\/wyoming-celebrates-nuclear-renaissance-as-feds-approve-license-for-a-new-reactor&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4284x4284+714+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F65%2Fa1e624ac46afa0438513e4cd548a%2Fbrian-muir.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Terra Power CEO Chris Levesque joined the Bill Gates-backed firm after years working in the legacy nuclear power industry which he says was slow to innovate.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5884029-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Nuclear optimists like Maul see a future where these reactors are mass produced and power remote communities, military bases and AI data centers. They see them as a solution to meet America&#8217;s rising energy demand without emitting carbon.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is also a fan. Last year, the Department of Energy sped up reactor permitting. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/28\/nx-s1-5677187\/nuclear-safety-rules-rewritten-trump\" target=\"_blank\"><u>NPR reporting<\/u><\/a> has shown that means getting rid of hundreds of pages of regulations, without telling the public.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Looser federal regulations<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;I have no confidence in the Department of Energy and its oversight of this at all.&#8221; said Edwin Lyman, Nuclear Power Safety Director at the Union of Concerned Scientists.<\/p>\n<p>He said he worries about reduced standards around radiation, security and environmental contamination.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/trump-nuclear-power-nrc-safety-doge-vought\" target=\"_blank\"><u>ProPublica reporting<\/u><\/a>, the federal commission that oversees commercial nuclear development has lost hundreds of staff, especially safety experts, due to cuts by the Trump administration and resignations. Companies now testing their reactors will seek approval from that commission.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think cutting corners when you&#8217;re talking about nuclear safety is a good idea,&#8221; Lyman said. &#8220;I&#8217;m concerned about its impact on the communities around INL&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-137893\" class=\"bucketwrap image x-large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 5406;&#10;        --source-height: 3604;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 1800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/2400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg 2400w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1350px) 953px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 395px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 60px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5406x3604+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2F7d%2Faa1188fa42e4841042052d516180%2Fap25143664282617.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"White House staff secretary Will Scharf hands President Donald Trump an executive order to sign regarding nuclear energy in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Washington.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                White House staff secretary Will Scharf hands President Donald Trump an executive order to sign regarding nuclear energy in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Washington.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Evan Vucci\/AP\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Evan Vucci\/AP\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But at the bar in Atomic City, where lab workers drink after a long day, O&#8217;Haro said she&#8217;s not worried.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;\u200aIf we weren&#8217;t safe, my guys would tell me that we weren&#8217;t safe.&#8221; she said, before turning up the country music playing in the background.<\/p>\n<p>A majority of Americans oppose new nuclear plants near them, but <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/708620\/less-support-solar-wind-energy-nuclear.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"><u>polling<\/u><\/a> also shows growing support for the U.S. &#8220;emphasizing&#8221; nuclear power more broadly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arco, Idaho is among the small towns near Idaho National Laboratory with a decades-long nuclear energy legacy. Hanna Merzbach hide caption toggle caption Hanna Merzbach People still smoke indoors at the bar in Atomic City, Idaho, population 52. The walls are plastered with one dollar bills and a Don&#8217;t Tread On Me flag. &#8220;Where were&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x2250+0+209\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F90%2Fed%2F43e218274b86ad053ad28bbe4649%2Fdsc07682.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}