The company, which has obtained site control, will build its microreactors on a 200 acre site and provide power to offtakers via a mix of private wires and grid transmission. The company has already filed for a grid connection with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and, following briefings with local stakeholders, is preparing to file for an Early Site Permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
“Texas is America’s undisputed energy leader, but skyrocketing population growth and data center development is forcing policymakers, customers, and energy providers to embrace new technologies,” said Bret Kugelmass, Founder and CEO of Last Energy. “Nuclear power is the most effective way to meet Texas’ demand, but our solution — plug-and-play microreactors, designed for scalability and siting flexibility — is the best way to meet it quickly. Texas is a state that recognizes energy is a precondition for prosperity, and Last Energy is excited to contribute to that mission.”
Last Energy’s plans are in response to overwhelming demand from Texas-based data center developers over the last year. Of the company’s existing commercial agreements, which entail the delivery of over 80 microreactors across Europe, half will serve data centers. Last Energy’s Texas site would increase the company’s development capacity by another 30 units, and enable the development of a commercial pipeline throughout the United States.
Last Energy’s Northwest Texas project will play a crucial role in adding capacity to the state’s grid and meeting the state’s data center deployment projections. Texas is currently home to over 340 data centers which consume nearly eight gigawatts of power and make up nine percent of all Texas electricity demand. In the Dallas-Fort Worth region alone, data centers are expected to drive an additional 43 gigawatts of demand. Last Energy’s PWR-20 is designed for mass-manufacturability to scale output to user demand.
Prior to today’s announcement, Last Energy built two full-scale prototypes in Texas with local manufacturing partners. The company has also held multiple demonstration events in Texas with industry and government stakeholders, including in Houston during CERAWeek 2024. In addition to developing its site in Texas, Last Energy is exploring projects in Utah.
Last Energy is a founding member of the Texas Nuclear Alliance, which aims to accelerate nuclear deployment across the state. The company has also secured its first full core load of fuel, scheduled to arrive in September 2026.
