Image courtesy of First American Nuclear

By KERRY SMITH BUCK

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A clean energy start-up is relocating from Washington State to the Indianapolis region to invest $4 billion in the construction of a closed-fuel nuclear energy park.

First American Nuclear (FANCO) plans to install six small modular reactors (SMRs) that will be equipped to reprocess spent uranium onsite – a process that is anticipated to eliminate 97 percent of long-lasting radioactive waste.

The firm recently relocated its headquarters from Richland, Wash. to Carmel, Ind.

The EAGL-1, FANCO’s 240-megawatt SMR, is designed to deliver the most cost-effective nuclear power at utility scale, according to the company’s website. It’s the only U.S. reactor that uses lead-bismuth technology as a coolant and will allow the company to clear a number of technical hurdles in producing commercial nuclear energy.

Canada-based AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin) is the exclusive engineering, procurement and construction management provider and general contractor for First American Nuclear Co.

The project, which is expected to create 5,000 permanent jobs, is expected to begin construction in 2028 and be able to provide nuclear power beginning in the early 2030s.