Terrestrial Energy (IMSR) Economic Impact Report
1/22/26
Terrestrial Energy’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) is framed as both an advanced nuclear technology and a macroeconomic engine, with a 32‑plant U.S. fleet by 2040 projected to drive large gains in jobs, GDP, industrial competitiveness, and decarbonization.
Core 2040 Base Case Numbers
~32 IMSR plants deployed by 2040, requiring roughly $60 billion of cumulative capital, primarily into U.S. construction and manufacturing supply chains.
Nearly 98,000 high‑skilled, long‑term American jobs supported across direct, indirect, and induced roles, including plant staff, construction, engineering, and local services.
About $8.9 billion in annual plant‑level revenue translates, via nuclear sector multipliers, into more than $12.5 billion in annual national GDP contribution.
Macroeconomic Context
The report situates IMSR within a “Nuclear Renaissance,” where U.S. policy support, private capital, and industrial reshoring converge to favor firm, low‑carbon generation.
Two demand shocks, AI/data centers and onshoring/decarbonization of heavy industry, are expected to sharply increase needs for 24/7 electricity and high‑temperature process heat.
Industrial Revitalization and Energy Economics
IMSR deployment is positioned as a catalyst for rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity via orders for specialized components, advanced materials, and heavy equipment.
Nuclear’s firm, carbon‑free baseload avoids the storage and integration costs of intermittent renewables and offers stable, fuel‑driven operating costs that hedge fossil price volatility for energy‑intensive users.
Decarbonization Value
A 32‑plant fleet is estimated to avoid roughly 48 million tonnes of CO₂ annually versus equivalent natural gas generation, comparable to removing more than 10 million gasoline cars from the road.
At a conservative $100 per tonne CO₂ value, avoided emissions alone represent about $4.8 billion per year in societal economic benefit, via health, climate‑risk reduction, and environmental gains.
Investment and Policy Thesis
The report argues that IMSR economics remain competitive on levelized cost of electricity when carbon and system costs are included, particularly versus other firm, dispatchable options.
Overall, Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR is presented as a dual thesis: an attractive private investment underpinned by nearly $9 billion of projected 2040 revenue, and a strategic national asset that advances U.S. energy security, industrial strategy, and climate objectives simultaneously.
FULL ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT ATTACHED BELOW FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS AND CLIENTS
