Texas Tests the Frontier of Small Nuclear Reactors

Texas has become a leading test bed for small modular reactors (SMRs), with several designs moving from study to test phases and government backing aiming to strengthen the state’s grid as demand could rise sharply by 2050. Projects include Natura Resources’ 1‑MW molten‑salt test in Abilene and Aalo Atomics’ 10‑MW sodium‑cooled units, plus X-energy’s plan for four 80‑MW reactors at Seadrift, backed by federal funding and state legislation. However, critics warn about high upfront costs, licensing timelines, and unresolved nuclear-waste questions, so deployment hinges on cost reductions, financing, and regulatory reform.