Project Status

Where the Project Stands

Powerplex is currently in a planning and evaluation phase.

Missouri S&T is studying whether the project can be designed, funded, licensed, built, and operated in a way that supports the university’s research mission and aligns with community priorities. The ongoing planning study will provide the technical and strategic foundation for next steps.

This work includes:

• Technology selection
• System design and integration
• Site evaluation
• Cost and funding analysis
• Regulatory pathway development

No final decisions have been made about construction, reactor technology, site location, or deployment. The current phase is focused on careful analysis, public communication, and preparation for future decision points.

What We Are Studying

The planning process is evaluating several major questions, including:

Community Priorities

What are the priorities of community stakeholders? How should feedback from Rolla City and Phelps County residents, campus groups, industry partners, and state agencies inform project planning, processes, and outcomes?

Technology Options

What type of next-generation nuclear facility will best meet Powerplex’s research, training, safety, licensing, and operating goals?

System Design

How should the nuclear facility, storage systems, electrical infrastructure, research spaces, monitoring controls, and industrial applications connect to optimize integrated system performance?

Potential Locations

Where should a future facility be located? What technical, environmental, infrastructure, and community factors need to be considered before making siting decisions?

Cost and Funding

What will the project cost to design, build, operate, maintain, and sustain over time? Where will that funding come from?

Regulatory Pathway

What reviews, licenses, environmental analyses, safety protocols, and public processes would be required before any future construction or operation?

What Hasn’t Been Decided

At this stage, no final decisions have been made about:

• Whether a Powerplex facility will be built.
• Which nuclear technology would be selected.
• Where the facility would be located.
• What the final system design will be.
• How partnerships will be established.
• What utility arrangements could be made.
• Which industrial uses would be permitted.
• What regulatory approvals will be required.
• How funds for construction will be raised.
• What the operating budget will be.

Consulting campus, community, and industry stakeholders is essential to making these decisions. The purpose of the current planning phase is to answer these questions carefully before moving to any future stage.

Planning for a Responsible Project

Powerplex is an ambitious project that requires careful planning and staged decisions. Each future step will depend on community engagement, safety planning, technical analysis, regulatory review, and the approval of the university system and other relevant state agencies.

The goal is to facilitate a deliberate process to gather technical information and community input   to determine whether the Powerplex project can responsibly and transparently move forward in a way that creates lasting value for the local community, the State of Missouri, and the nation at large.

Missouri S&T will continue to share updates as the planning process develops and as more information becomes available. Please subscribe for stay updated.