Fermi America presented its flagship Project Matador nuclear development initiative at the NRC Regulatory Information Conference 2026 in Rockville, Maryland, one of the most influential annual gatherings for nuclear policy and industry leaders in the United States. During the event, the company highlighted the project’s progress and its potential to become one of the country’s most advanced nuclear construction programs.
Project Matador and the Nuclear Licensing Milestone
At the conference, Mesut Uzman, Chief Nuclear Construction Officer at Fermi America, emphasized that Project Matador currently holds the only active Combined Operating License Application (COLA) for a large-scale light-water reactor accepted for review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in more than 15 years.
The project is designed to deliver 4.4 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity, forming part of a larger 11 GW private power campus planned near Amarillo, Texas. According to the company, the facility aims to provide reliable electricity for energy-intensive industries such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced defense technologies.
Strategic Partnerships for Reactor Construction
Fermi America has formed partnerships with major international engineering and nuclear technology companies to support the project’s development. Key partners include Westinghouse Electric Company, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Doosan Enerbility.
The companies are expected to contribute expertise in reactor design, supply chain management, and construction. The project will utilize AP1000 technology, a widely deployed Generation III+ nuclear reactor design known for its passive safety systems.
Industry representatives from these organizations also participated in a conference panel focused on strengthening the nuclear supply chain for future reactor development.
Infrastructure Development and Regulatory Progress
Project Matador has secured several important milestones in its development process. Texas Tech University System has granted Fermi America a 99-year lease for land adjacent to the Pantex Plant, a long-standing U.S. Department of Energy nuclear facility.
In addition, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has approved a major clean air permit covering up to 6 GW of natural gas generation, which will initially support the project’s energy infrastructure as nuclear construction progresses.
Addressing Rising Energy Demand
The development of large-scale power infrastructure has gained renewed attention in the United States due to increasing electricity demand driven by data centers, AI computing, semiconductor fabrication, and advanced manufacturing.
Project Matador is designed to operate as a behind-the-meter power system, combining nuclear energy, natural gas, solar generation, and battery storage. According to Fermi America, this hybrid energy campus could deliver reliable power without placing additional strain on regional public grids.
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