Image courtesy Canva

Deep Fission, an advanced nuclear energy company that places small modular reactors one mile underground, has chosen the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, Kansas, for its first pilot project. The company will break ground on Tuesday, December 9, and plans to complete construction and start up the reactor by July 4, 2026, if the Department of Energy (DOE) approves the next steps.

Deep Fission is part of the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, which is designed to speed up the development of new nuclear technologies. The company and the Great Plains Development Authority have signed an agreement to work together on the pilot project and to explore building a full commercial facility at the same location.

The Great Plains Industrial Park spans more than 14,000 acres in Labette County and is already set up for large industrial and energy projects. The site gives Deep Fission room to expand over time.

The company’s Gravity reactor is built in a deep underground borehole. The natural rock provides strong shielding and containment, which improves safety, reduces costs, and minimizes the project’s impact on the land above.

The announcement follows Deep Fission’s recent move to become a publicly traded company and growing interest from potential customers, totaling about 12.5 gigawatts of possible future demand.

Deep Fission was founded in 2023 and focuses on delivering safe, affordable, low-carbon power using underground reactor technology. The Great Plains Industrial Park, a former Army ammunition plant, now serves as a major industrial hub with rail access, utilities, and infrastructure that support long-term energy and manufacturing development.