Nuclear energy startup Valar Atomics has submitted proposals to build a massive, independent nuclear-powered data center and industrial complex on more than 9,000 acres of federal land in Utah. Dubbed “Project Beehive,” the ambitious undertaking would be located near Price, Utah, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Documents reviewed by NPR reveal that the facility is designed to address the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure completely off the traditional electrical grid.
- Project Timeline and State Land Leases
- Advanced Technology and Recent Milestones
- Environmental Concerns and Public Response
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Project Beehive?
- How many reactors will Project Beehive use?
- What land is being used for the project?
- When will the facility become operational?
- How does Valar Atomics generate power?
The proposed project includes 456 small modular nuclear reactors, dedicated data centers, a nuclear fuel production plant, and on-site facilities for storing nuclear waste. Together, the reactor fleet would generate approximately 9.6 gigawatts of electrical power alongside significant thermal heat for industrial manufacturing processes. To put the scale into perspective, Valar’s projected output surpasses the entire state of Utah’s average electricity generation, which hovers around 4 gigawatts.
Project Timeline and State Land Leases
Valar Atomics has established an aggressive schedule for Project Beehive. Non-nuclear construction on the site could begin before the end of the year, with the first wave of small modular reactors targeted to become operational by 2028. The company expects the entire gigasite development to reach completion by 2032.
In addition to the 9,000-plus acres of federal BLM land, Valar has applied to lease approximately 650 acres of Utah state land to support the infrastructure footprint. This follows a 50-year lease approval by the Utah Trust Lands Administration in September 2026 for up to 640 acres across Carbon and Emery counties designated for a combined nuclear, manufacturing, and data center campus.
Advanced Technology and Recent Milestones
Valar Atomics, founded in 2023 by CEO Isaiah Taylor, relies on high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) that operate independently from public utility grids. The company achieved a major regulatory and technical milestone when its “Ward 250” test microreactor reached fueled criticality on June 18, 2026, at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville. This marked the first time a private startup built and operated a functional nuclear reactor outside of a national laboratory.
Just weeks later, on July 1, 2026, the Ward 250 reactor generated its first electricity, successfully powering a single Nvidia Blackwell chip during a live public demonstration. The startup’s rapid progress has been significantly bolstered by federal regulatory streamlining, including executive orders signed by President Donald Trump to accelerate small modular reactor testing and deployment.
Environmental Concerns and Public Response
While local officials in economically transitioned communities like Emery and Carbon counties have welcomed the private investment, high-skill jobs, and prospective tax revenue, the project has triggered strong opposition from environmental advocates and local residents.
Critics argue that placing hundreds of small nuclear reactors and nuclear waste storage facilities on expansive public lands sets an alarming precedent. Neal Clark, wildlands director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, criticized the accelerated push on public acreage. Similarly, Lexi Tuddenham, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, emphasized that the implications of industrial nuclear development on public lands extend far beyond local communities.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office confirmed it has received Valar’s application and is currently reviewing it for completeness. As the proposal moves through the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review framework, federal regulators have assured that the public will be granted structured opportunities to provide input.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Project Beehive?
Project Beehive is a proposed massive nuclear-powered data center and industrial gigasite planned by Valar Atomics on public lands near Price, Utah.
How many reactors will Project Beehive use?
The proposal outlines the deployment of 456 small modular nuclear reactors to supply an estimated 9.6 gigawatts of continuous electricity and industrial heat.
What land is being used for the project?
The facility is planned for over 9,000 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), alongside approximately 650 acres of Utah state trust lands in Carbon and Emery counties.
When will the facility become operational?
Valar Atomics anticipates starting non-nuclear construction by the end of the year, with the first reactors coming online by 2028 and full project completion targeted for 2032.
How does Valar Atomics generate power?
The company utilizes small, high-temperature gas-cooled microreactors-such as its Ward 250 design-which are manufactured on a standardized basis and operated off the traditional electrical grid.
