Top 5 Kansas news stories
October 17 2025
TerraPower, Evergy Explore Nuclear Plant Sites in Kansas
Lyon County Emerges as Nuclear Plant Contender
Hutchinson Pursues TerraPower Nuclear Project
Deep Fission Plans Underground Reactors for Kansas Data Centers
Kansas GOP Turns Kelly's Redistricting Words Into Weapon
1. TerraPower, Evergy Explore Nuclear Plant Sites in Kansas
September 25, 2025
TerraPower, the nuclear innovation company founded by Bill Gates, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce to explore sites for its Natrium reactor and energy storage system within Evergy's Kansas service territory. The 345-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor features molten salt storage that can boost output to 500 MW during peak demand, making it the only advanced reactor design with this capability. Governor Laura Kelly emphasized the state's "all-of-the-above" energy approach, while both U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall expressed strong support for the project, citing nuclear energy's role in energy independence and lower electricity costs. Site selection will evaluate community support, physical characteristics, NRC licensing potential and access to existing infrastructure, with TerraPower having already broken ground on its first commercial project in Wyoming in 2024.
TerraPower
2. Lyon County Emerges as Nuclear Plant Contender
Lyon County officials are positioning Emporia as a leading candidate for Kansas's potential new nuclear power plant following the recent TerraPower-Evergy partnership announcement. State Rep. Mark Schreiber told the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas that the project could help address a massive projected peak demand increase while bringing significant workforce expansion opportunities to the area, with advantages including strong support from Flint Hills Technical College and proximity to the existing Wolf Creek nuclear facility that has operated successfully for 40 years.
KWCH
3. Hutchinson Pursues TerraPower Nuclear Project
Hutchinson will formally express interest in hosting TerraPower's next-generation modular nuclear plant after Chamber President Debra Teufel told city council members the community offers compelling advantages including industrial-zoned land, proximity to high-voltage transmission lines, ample water supply and an energy-sector trained workforce. The multi-billion-dollar project would be Evergy's first advanced nuclear facility in Kansas, with the council supporting Mayor's authorization to submit a formal letter of interest.
Citizen Journal
4. Deep Fission Plans Underground Reactors for Kansas Data Centers
Deep Fission, a company developing small nuclear reactors installed one mile underground to power data centers and AI operations, has signed letters of intent with undisclosed partners in Kansas, Texas and Utah for its first installations. The company says its "discreet, bespoke" technology could meet explosive power demand from artificial intelligence but declined to identify specific Kansas partners or locations pending further announcements.
Capital-Journal
5. Kansas GOP Turns Kelly's Redistricting Words Into Weapon
Kansas Republicans are using Governor Laura Kelly's own statement that "there's a bigger risk in doing nothing" to support partisan redistricting efforts after she made the comment in August while encouraging Democratic states to gerrymander in response to Republican efforts in Texas. Speaking as Democratic Governors Association chair in Wisconsin, Kelly said "I'm not a big believer in unilateral disarmament" and urged Democrats to "respond in kind," providing ammunition for GOP legislators pushing gerrymandered maps in Kansas.
Capital-Journal
Sources
- https://www.terrapower.com/terrapower-evergy-and-kansas-announce-agreement-to-explore-advanced-nuclear-energy-deployment
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/10/16/nuclear-power-plant-could-be-coming-lyon-county-officials-say/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
- https://www.citizenjournal.us/hutchinson-local-news-summary-4/
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2025/10/17/nuclear-reactor-built-1-mile-under-kansas-soil-company-makes-plans/86676431007/?tbref=hp
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/10/16/how-kansas-gop-is-using-laura-kellys-gerrymandering-words-against-her/86691887007/?tbref=hp
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 12 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!
Brought to you by (click me!)
