The experiment marks the second criticality for Valar and the first nationwide for a Department of Energy-authorized reactor outside a national lab.
(KOAL News) The Ward 250 project – which was first announced in May of 2025 – was a part of President Donald Trump’s executive order pushing to turn on an advanced nuclear reactor on American Soil by July 4, 2026, the country’s 250th birthday.
A historic milestone was reached in Emery County Thursday afternoon, as Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration. The experiment marks the second criticality for Valar and the first nationwide for a Department of Energy-authorized reactor outside a national lab.
Despite the intimidating name, criticality in a nuclear reactor means that it can produce an ongoing, stable chain reaction. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, this occurs when “each fission event releases a sufficient number of neutrons to sustain an ongoing series of reactions.” This reaction is what leads to power generation for the reactor.
“Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th,” said Valar CEO Isiah Taylor in a social media post. “This is a historic moment and the culmination of two years of work on the part of the Valar Atomics team. [These are] the most hardcore, intelligent, and driven people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with; which will be seen as we begin power ascension in the coming days.”
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