A nuclear energy startup with ambitions to revive the industry is pursuing an unprecedented project on federal land in Utah, proposing to install hundreds of small reactors to power a sprawling data center complex, according to documents reviewed by NPR.
Valar Atomics has outlined plans for what it calls "Project Beehive," which would occupy more than 9,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management property near Price, Utah. The proposal, submitted to federal regulators, envisions a facility combining data centers with approximately 456 small nuclear reactors, alongside infrastructure for producing nuclear fuel and storing radioactive waste.
The scale of the project is striking. Collectively, the reactors would generate roughly 9.6 gigawatts of electrical power for the data centers, with additional thermal output intended for other industrial uses. For context, the entire state of Utah currently produces only about 4 gigawatts of electricity on average, though its peak capacity during summer months can approach 10 gigawatts. The project would therefore represent a dramatic expansion of energy production in the region, potentially more than doubling the state's typical output.
According to the company's timeline, nonnuclear construction could begin as early as the end of this year, with the first reactors expected to come online sometime in 2028. That schedule places the project among the most aggressive nuclear deployment plans in the country, raising questions about regulatory review, safety oversight, and the readiness of the technology.
The venture has already drawn attention at the state level. Valar has also sought access to approximately 650 acres of state land as part of the same initiative, according to state records. The Salt Lake Tribune first reported on the project's use of state land last week, though the much larger proposal involving federal acreage had not been previously disclosed.
Local reaction has been swift and wary. Activists in the region are already contending with a wave of data center proposals seeking to capitalize on Utah's available land and energy infrastructure. The addition of a nuclear-powered complex of this magnitude has intensified concerns about land use, environmental impact, and community disruption.
The project's location on public land adds a layer of complexity. Federal acreage managed by the Bureau of Land Management is subject to environmental review and public comment processes, and any nuclear development would require additional oversight from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The proposal to produce nuclear fuel and store waste on-site introduces further regulatory and safety considerations that could prolong approval timelines.
Valar Atomics has positioned itself as part of a broader movement to reinvigorate nuclear power in the United States. The company's founder has publicly expressed a mission to "make nuclear great again," language that aligns with a growing push among technology companies and policymakers to embrace nuclear energy as a reliable, low-carbon power source for energy-intensive operations like artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Data centers have become voracious consumers of electricity, and the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has strained power grids in several states. Nuclear reactors, particularly small modular designs, have been promoted as a solution because they can provide continuous baseload power without the intermittency of solar and wind. However, most small reactor designs remain in early stages of development, and none have been deployed at the scale Valar is proposing.
The idea of placing hundreds of reactors on a single site is highly unusual. Commercial nuclear plants in the U.S. typically house one to four reactors, and the country's largest facility, the Palo Verde Generating Station in Arizona, operates three. A 456-reactor complex would dwarf any existing nuclear installation and would require an entirely new approach to licensing, construction, and operation.
The project also raises questions about nuclear fuel supply and waste management. While the proposal includes facilities for both, the United States currently lacks a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel, and the prospect of storing waste on-site near Price could become a flashpoint for opponents. The transportation of nuclear materials to and from the site would add another layer of concern.
For Utah, the project represents both an economic opportunity and a potential burden. Data centers bring construction jobs and tax revenue, but they also consume large amounts of water and electricity, resources that are increasingly constrained in the arid West. The nuclear component could amplify those pressures while introducing new risks that state and local officials may not be equipped to manage.
The timing of the project is notable. It comes as federal agencies are revisiting policies around nuclear energy, and as private investment in advanced reactors continues to grow. Yet the gap between ambition and execution in the nuclear sector remains wide. Many startup proposals have encountered delays, cost overruns, or outright failure.
Whether Project Beehive advances will depend on a complex interplay of regulatory approvals, financing, technological readiness, and community acceptance. For now, the proposal stands as one of the most ambitious—and unconventional—energy projects ever contemplated on U.S. public land, and it is likely to face intense scrutiny in the months ahead.
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