Menu
SECTIONS
Iran war Russia-Ukraine war Español China Asia Pacific Latin America Europe Africa
TOP STORIES
- Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust
- In public letter, Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls on Putin for direct negotiations in a neutral country
- More than half of Latin Americans deported from US to Congo are now back home
Newsletters
The Morning Wire\ \ Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire\ \ Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day.
SECTIONS
Immigration Weather Education Transportation Abortion LGBTQ+ Notable Deaths
TOP STORIES
- Prosecutors lose appeal in Arizona's fake elector case and vow to present it again to a grand jury
- Copilot of United jet that struck a light pole realized flight was low, but not in time, report says
- A federal judge strikes down Trump administration immigration policy affecting 39 countries
Newsletters
The Morning Wire\ \ Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.
AP QUIZZES
Test Your News I.Q. — take today’s quiz
SECTIONS
2026 Elections Election Results Election calendar White House Congress Supreme Court The latest AP-NORC polls Ground Game
TOP STORIES
- Senate OKs $70B immigration bill after rejecting efforts to permanently ban Trump's settlement fund
- Trump says Pulte won’t be his nominee for director of national intelligence
- House passes bill to aid Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia
Newsletters
Ground Game\ \ Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.
SECTIONS
NBA MLB NFL NHL Tennis Golf Soccer FIFA World Cup
TOP STORIES
- The superfans known as the 'Spurs Nuns' aiming to bring divine intervention to the NBA Finals
- Bears say they are moving forward with Northwest Indiana location for new stadium
- How the chaotic final 15 minutes of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final unfolded
Newsletters
AP Top 25 Poll Alerts\ \ Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. The Sports Wire\ \ Your home base for in-depth reporting from the world of sports.
SECTIONS
Movies Fashion Television Celebrity Interviews Music Books
TOP STORIES
- Actor Anthony Head, known for ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' has died at 72
- LAPD arrest girlfriend's son in stabbing death of actor James Handy
- Taylor Swift's 'Toy Story 5' song is a return to pop country
Newsletters
SECTIONS
Tariffs Inflation Financial Markets Financial Wellness Technology
TOP STORIES
-
Longtime CBS correspondent Scott Pelley lived many workers' fantasy: Telling your boss off
-
The US job market is strong but many Americans are still frustrated by prospects and rising prices
-
Stocks slump as Big Tech sinks and a strong May jobs report boosts odds for higher interest rates
SECTIONS
Space Animals The Ancient World Climate Medicine
TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES
-
Lettuce introduce you to the live frog found in this grocery store salad bag
-
A humpback whale briefly swallows kayaker in Chilean Patagonia — and it's all captured on camera
-
How 2 men claimed an absurd record by driving an old 3-wheel car the length of Africa
-
Viral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animals
-
Raccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floor
-
Nipper, stay! The future of a beloved dog statue on a New York warehouse is up in the air
SECTIONS
Trending Better health At home Working well For the climate Eating well
TOP STORIES
-
A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends
-
Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it
-
Many soccer fans will be drinking alcohol and watching the World Cup. In heat, doing that is risky
SECTIONS
TOP STORIES
- A photo captures a wall of wild horses surging through western Germany
- At the Kaaba during Hajj, a photographer captures sense of unity and devotion
- A photo captures tear gas drifting across a mountain road during Bolivia protests
Newsletters
The World in Pictures\ \ Get The AP’s most compelling photographs sent directly to your inbox.
SECTIONS
Indigenous peoples and climate Climate Questions Climate Migration India Focus
TOP STORIES
-
Energy, water use and pollution of AI and data centers rival most countries
-
Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds
-
Many soccer fans will be drinking alcohol and watching the World Cup. In heat, doing that is risky
TOP STORIES
-
Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it
-
Challenging your brain helps keep it healthy. Here's how to do it
-
Most new moms get the baby blues. But it could be something more serious: postpartum depression
-
Experimental pill promises new hope for deadly pancreatic cancer
-
Tools to fight hantavirus show promise despite limited funding. Now researchers hope to continue
SECTIONS
Artificial Intelligence Social Media
TOP STORIES
-
One Tech Tip: Don't use rice for your device. Here's how to dry out your smartphone
-
Callers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead
-
Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese
SECTIONS
Food & Recipes Gardening Fashion Homes Travel Pets
TOP STORIES
-
A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends
-
Flower gardens endure hot, dry summers better if you choose these plants
-
The electric guitar spawned garage bands, rock-god dreams — and generations of popular music
TOP STORIES
- 4 years running, Southern Baptists weigh tightening ban on churches with women pastors
- Washington archbishop removes priest as exorcist after comments on UFOs and demons
- Photos of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia as Gaudí basilica rises before Pope Leo XIV’s visit
Newsletters
World of Faith\ \ Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world.
SECTIONS
Política de EEUU Deportes Mundial de Fútbol FIFA
TOP STORIES
-
Cámara baja de EEUU aprueba resolución para frenar la acción militar contra Irán
-
ICE detiene a 48 inmigrantes en Carolina del Sur por uso de documentos de identidad falsos
-
EEUU impone sanciones al presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, en nueva medida de presión
-
MORE
Search Query Submit Search
Show Search Menu
Submit Search
Menu
SECTIONS
Iran war Russia-Ukraine war Español China Asia Pacific Latin America Europe Africa
TOP STORIES
- Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust
- In public letter, Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls on Putin for direct negotiations in a neutral country
- More than half of Latin Americans deported from US to Congo are now back home
Newsletters
The Morning Wire\ \ Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire\ \ Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day.
SECTIONS
Immigration Weather Education Transportation Abortion LGBTQ+ Notable Deaths
TOP STORIES
- Prosecutors lose appeal in Arizona's fake elector case and vow to present it again to a grand jury
- Copilot of United jet that struck a light pole realized flight was low, but not in time, report says
- A federal judge strikes down Trump administration immigration policy affecting 39 countries
Newsletters
The Morning Wire\ \ Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.
AP QUIZZES
Test Your News I.Q. — take today’s quiz
SECTIONS
2026 Elections Election Results Election calendar White House Congress Supreme Court The latest AP-NORC polls Ground Game
TOP STORIES
- Senate OKs $70B immigration bill after rejecting efforts to permanently ban Trump's settlement fund
- Trump says Pulte won’t be his nominee for director of national intelligence
- House passes bill to aid Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia
Newsletters
Ground Game\ \ Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.
SECTIONS
NBA MLB NFL NHL Tennis Golf Soccer FIFA World Cup
TOP STORIES
- The superfans known as the 'Spurs Nuns' aiming to bring divine intervention to the NBA Finals
- Bears say they are moving forward with Northwest Indiana location for new stadium
- How the chaotic final 15 minutes of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final unfolded
Newsletters
AP Top 25 Poll Alerts\ \ Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. The Sports Wire\ \ Your home base for in-depth reporting from the world of sports.
SECTIONS
Movies Fashion Television Celebrity Interviews Music Books
TOP STORIES
- Actor Anthony Head, known for ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' has died at 72
- LAPD arrest girlfriend's son in stabbing death of actor James Handy
- Taylor Swift's 'Toy Story 5' song is a return to pop country
Newsletters
SECTIONS
Tariffs Inflation Financial Markets Financial Wellness Technology
TOP STORIES
-
Longtime CBS correspondent Scott Pelley lived many workers' fantasy: Telling your boss off
-
The US job market is strong but many Americans are still frustrated by prospects and rising prices
-
Stocks slump as Big Tech sinks and a strong May jobs report boosts odds for higher interest rates
SECTIONS
Space Animals The Ancient World Climate Medicine
TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES
-
Lettuce introduce you to the live frog found in this grocery store salad bag
-
A humpback whale briefly swallows kayaker in Chilean Patagonia — and it's all captured on camera
-
How 2 men claimed an absurd record by driving an old 3-wheel car the length of Africa
-
Viral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animals
-
Raccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floor
-
Nipper, stay! The future of a beloved dog statue on a New York warehouse is up in the air
SECTIONS
Trending Better health At home Working well For the climate Eating well
TOP STORIES
-
A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends
-
Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it
-
Many soccer fans will be drinking alcohol and watching the World Cup. In heat, doing that is risky
SECTIONS
TOP STORIES
- A photo captures a wall of wild horses surging through western Germany
- At the Kaaba during Hajj, a photographer captures sense of unity and devotion
- A photo captures tear gas drifting across a mountain road during Bolivia protests
Newsletters
The World in Pictures\ \ Get The AP’s most compelling photographs sent directly to your inbox.
SECTIONS
Indigenous peoples and climate Climate Questions Climate Migration India Focus
TOP STORIES
-
Energy, water use and pollution of AI and data centers rival most countries
-
Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds
-
Many soccer fans will be drinking alcohol and watching the World Cup. In heat, doing that is risky
TOP STORIES
-
Being a night owl may not be great for your heart but you can do something about it
-
Challenging your brain helps keep it healthy. Here's how to do it
-
Most new moms get the baby blues. But it could be something more serious: postpartum depression
-
Experimental pill promises new hope for deadly pancreatic cancer
-
Tools to fight hantavirus show promise despite limited funding. Now researchers hope to continue
SECTIONS
Artificial Intelligence Social Media
TOP STORIES
-
One Tech Tip: Don't use rice for your device. Here's how to dry out your smartphone
-
Callers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead
-
Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese
SECTIONS
Food & Recipes Gardening Fashion Homes Travel Pets
TOP STORIES
-
A new kind of date makes personal to-do lists a reason to get together with friends
-
Flower gardens endure hot, dry summers better if you choose these plants
-
The electric guitar spawned garage bands, rock-god dreams — and generations of popular music
TOP STORIES
- 4 years running, Southern Baptists weigh tightening ban on churches with women pastors
- Washington archbishop removes priest as exorcist after comments on UFOs and demons
- Photos of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia as Gaudí basilica rises before Pope Leo XIV’s visit
Newsletters
World of Faith\ \ Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world.
SECTIONS
Política de EEUU Deportes Mundial de Fútbol FIFA
TOP STORIES
-
Cámara baja de EEUU aprueba resolución para frenar la acción militar contra Irán
-
ICE detiene a 48 inmigrantes en Carolina del Sur por uso de documentos de identidad falsos
-
EEUU impone sanciones al presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, en nueva medida de presión
-
MORE
Search Query Submit Search
Show Search Menu
Submit Search
Energy Department says advanced nuclear reactor first to reach critical milestone
Energy Department says advanced nuclear reactor first to reach critical milestone
1 of 2 | Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during an event, May 4, 2026, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Read More
2 of 2 | Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and Under Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey, left, listen as Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics, discusses a microreactor developed by Valar to generate nuclear power for the military and commercial customers, Feb. 15, 2026, in-flight, on board a C-17. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly, File)
Read More
Energy Department says advanced nuclear reactor first to reach critical milestone
1 of 2 | Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during an event, May 4, 2026, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Read More
1 of 2
Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during an event, May 4, 2026, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share
Share
- Copy
Link copied
Read More
2 of 2 | Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and Under Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey, left, listen as Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics, discusses a microreactor developed by Valar to generate nuclear power for the military and commercial customers, Feb. 15, 2026, in-flight, on board a C-17. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly, File)
Read More
2 of 2
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and Under Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey, left, listen as Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics, discusses a microreactor developed by Valar to generate nuclear power for the military and commercial customers, Feb. 15, 2026, in-flight, on board a C-17. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly, File)
Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share
Share
- Copy
Link copied
Read More
By MATTHEW DALY
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share
Share
- Copy
Link copied
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Energy Department says a small nuclear reactor under development at a national lab has reached a crucial milestone that could allow it to produce electricity within a few years.
The microreactor being developed by Antares Nuclear Inc. at the Idaho National Lab reached “criticality” on Thursday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. The milestone occurs when a nuclear reactor achieves a self-sustaining chain reaction capable of producing a steady release of energy.
Antares is the first private company to bring an advanced reactor to criticality under a pilot program begun last year by the Trump administration meant to supercharge nuclear energy production in the U.S. The demonstration was conducted in partnership with the Energy Department and other contractors with support from the U.S. Army.
“We are very excited by this news today,” Wright said Friday on a call with reporters. “I think June 4th will be a historic day in the American nuclear renaissance.”
Antares and its partners “have shown America can do bold things,” Wright added. “America has great technology, great entrepreneurs that are ready to drive energy innovation to power our future, lower energy costs and make our country more powerful.”
Trump administration pushing to ramp up nuclear power
The achievement shows that the Trump administration’s push to remove regulatory barriers is helping to advance new nuclear technologies, Wright said.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders in May 2025 intended to speed up the development of nuclear power, including steps that grant Wright authority to approve some advanced reactor designs and projects. Trump’s orders limit some authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the independent safety agency that has regulated the U.S. nuclear industry for five decades.
Related Stories
Can’t afford sky-high tickets to see the Knicks in person? Trump says ‘watch it on television’
2 MIN READ
Remaining three ’60 Minutes’ stars say they’re staying at CBS show, don’t want to see it die
2 MIN READ
Court can’t stop Trump ballroom construction, government lawyer tells judge
2 MIN READ
Skeptics warn that nuclear energy poses risks and say microreactors may not be safe or feasible and have not proved they can meet demand for a reasonable price.
Read More
While the Antares system is years away from commercial use, achieving criticality is a notable step. The California-based company, which is initially targeting military applications, said it expects to begin producing electricity by late 2027 and see its systems deployed in the field by the end of 2028, CEO Jordan Bramble said Friday.
“Nuclear in America has been defined for too long by delays, by companies that said they would and then didn’t,” Bramble said in a written statement.
At a briefing on Friday, Bramble said achieving criticality “is the first step on a roadmap toward producing electricity ahead of deploying this technology for customer sites.”
“Microreactors are a technology that’s here today,” he added. “2026 is the year where microreactors are becoming real. We’re months to years out from being able to start deploying this technology to military installations.”
July 4 goal for test reactors
The Trump administration has set a goal of achieving the criticality milestone in at least three test reactors by July 4 — the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Officials have selected 11 advanced reactor projects, including Antares, to move their technologies toward deployment.
In February, the Pentagon and the Energy Department for the first time airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating what they say is the country’s potential to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use. The nearly 700-mile flight transported a 5-megawatt microreactor manufactured by Valar Atomics in southern California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
The reactor — which did not have nuclear fuel — eventually will be able to generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 5,000 homes, said Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics. The company hopes to start selling power on a test basis next year and become fully commercial in 2028, he said.
Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the transport flight, which attracted significant news coverage, was little more than a publicity stunt.
He offered a similar response to the claims by Antares and Wright.
“This stunt is a rudimentary first step that has absolutely no bearing on whether the Antares reactor will be safe or commercially viable,” Lyman said in an email Friday.
The Energy Department’s statement that the test “confirms that the reactor can operate safely” is false, Lyman said, adding that more testing of the reactor is needed.
The administration has not resolved how nuclear waste will be disposed, although Wright has said the Energy Department is in talks with Utah and other states to host sites that could reprocess fuel or handle permanent disposal. States including Tennessee, Nebraska and Idaho have expressed interest in handling nuclear waste.
Daly covers climate, environment and energy policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington, D.C.
Read Original at AP News →