NEWS: US nuclear microreactors are progressing quickly—if you take DOE and developers at their word.

Aalo Atomics said its completed Critical Test Reactor will go critical “in a matter of weeks.” It’s far ahead of the initial July 4 deadline set by DOE’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, which includes 10 other advanced reactor projects.

Speaking of, DOE told a Senate panel that it now expects three to four of these demo microreactors (including Aalo’s) to reach criticality by Independence Day. That’s up from the one to two predicted when the pilot program launched last fall. But the agency still has questions surrounding manufacturing issues and fuel production. 👀

While we’re here: OpenAI is in advanced talks to purchase power from the Sam Altman-backed fusion startup Helion Energy—5 GW by 2030, rising to 50 GW by 2035. That’s a tight deadline for a power source still in the early stages, and specific details like site location remain hazy.