Valar Atomics has submitted a proposal to federal regulators for Project Beehive, an industrial facility planned on Bureau of Land Management land near Price, Utah. The facility would occupy more than 9,000 acres and include approximately 456 small nuclear reactors, data centers, a nuclear fuel production facility, and waste storage infrastructure. The proposed installation would generate around 9.6 gigawatts of power, significantly exceeding Utah’s current average electricity output of 4 gigawatts.
According to the company’s timeline, nonnuclear construction could begin as soon as the end of this year, with the first reactors expected to come online in 2028. The full facility could be completed by 2032. Valar has also sought the use of approximately 650 acres of state land as part of the project. The Bureau of Land Management confirmed receiving the application and indicated it is reviewing the submission for completeness while preparing for required National Environmental Policy Act review processes.
Local environmental and public lands organizations have expressed concern about the proposal. Activists noted that multiple data center projects are already under consideration in Utah and questioned the appropriateness of such large-scale industrial development on public lands. Environmental groups emphasized that opposition to the project crosses political boundaries and stated their immediate priority is raising public awareness.
Valar Atomics has benefited from recent regulatory changes favoring small modular reactor development. The company’s test reactor, Ward 250, was transported to Utah in February and achieved self-sustaining nuclear reaction status in June. In July, the company demonstrated electricity generation from the test reactor. The small modular reactor approach differs from traditional large nuclear plants by allowing mass production and phased installation, potentially reducing costs and accelerating deployment timelines.
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