Private microreactor reaches critical milestone, accelerating U.S. nuclear roadmap
The Energy Department says Antares Nuclear’s microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory has reached criticality, marking the first private company to achieve this milestone under a Trump-era pilot program to accelerate advanced reactors. Antares aims to begin electricity generation by late 2027 and deploy systems by 2028, as regulators push to speed development amid ongoing safety debates and a broader push to expand U.S. nuclear power.