A nuclear science company founded by Bill Gates has chosen South Philadelphia for a new manufacturing facility dedicated to producing radioactive medical isotopes used in cancer treatment. TerraPower Isotopes announced plans to invest $450 million to build a 250,000-square-foot plant at The Bellwether District, the redevelopment site located on land that once housed the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.
The project will become TerraPower Isotopes’ first East Coast property and will bring more than 225 full-time jobs to the area, along with about 500 temporary construction jobs. City officials say the investment adds to Philadelphia’s expanding life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Bellwether District occupies 1,300 acres along the Schuylkill River in South Philadelphia. The property once operated as one of the largest oil refineries on the East Coast until a 2019 explosion and fire shut the facility down. After the refinery closed, the land underwent years of environmental cleanup overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The property is now owned by HRP Group, formerly known as Hilco, which acquired the refinery site in 2020 and began redeveloping the area into an industrial and innovation district designed to host manufacturing, commercial, and residential projects.
TerraPower Isotopes plans to lease space at the site for a custom facility dedicated to producing actinium-225, an extremely rare radioactive isotope used in advanced cancer therapies. The isotope is being tested in clinical trials and is used in the development of targeted alpha therapy, a treatment approach in which antibodies locate tumor cells and deliver radiation directly to those cells while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue.
The isotope remains extremely scarce worldwide. According to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, the entire global supply produced each year is less than a grain of sand. TerraPower’s facility will manufacture radioisotope generators that extract actinium-225, supplying the isotope to companies developing cancer treatments.
Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes, described the facility as a response to rising demand within nuclear medicine. “This new facility is a testament to the demand for actinium-225 as part of the growing industry, which is transforming how cancer is treated,” Claunch said.
TerraPower has stated that handling radioactive materials at the facility will take place under strict safety protocols. A spokesperson said, “The radioactive materials are handled in highly controlled environments by trained professionals, with oversight from several regulatory bodies. Facilities are specifically designed with shielding, monitoring systems, and safety protocols to protect workers, the public, and the environment. The amounts of radioactive material involved are extremely small, carefully measured, and strictly tracked.”
TerraPower Isotopes will become the second company announced for the Bellwether District redevelopment. In December, canned beverage manufacturer DrinkPAK revealed plans for a $195 million, 1.4-million-square-foot facility near 26th Street and Penrose Avenue at the site.
HRP Group has said the redevelopment will include more than a dozen industrial buildings and warehouses and could produce over 19,000 full-time jobs when fully developed.
TerraPower selected Philadelphia after evaluating more than 350 locations across the United States. City officials say the region’s research universities, hospitals, and existing biotechnology companies played a role in the company’s decision.
“It’s a really big deal!” said Karen Fegely, Philadelphia’s commerce director. She explained that the company chose Philadelphia because of its research environment. “They chose to locate here in Philadelphia because we have so much of this great research and science and life sciences industry here in Philadelphia.”
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offered financial incentives to secure the project. Governor Josh Shapiro announced a $10 million state investment, including $7 million through the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) program and $3 million through the Pennsylvania First grant program.
The company may also qualify for programs such as Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing Tax Credit and the Qualified Manufacturing and Innovation Reinvestment Deduction. The Bellwether District is designated a Keystone Opportunity Zone through 2043, which provides additional tax incentives.
According to Justin Backover, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the tax programs could eliminate most state and local taxes tied to the project. TerraPower will still pay the Philadelphia city wage tax.
The state grants require the company to create 225 jobs within three years and maintain those positions for at least two years.
Pennsylvania has also invested $40 million in transportation infrastructure improvements near the Bellwether District to support access to the redevelopment site.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker called the project a victory for the city’s economy. “This investment will create hundreds of good paying jobs, strengthen our advanced manufacturing and life sciences sectors and expand economic opportunity,” Parker said in a statement. “Exciting things are coming to South Philly, and we are just getting started.”
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, whose district includes South and Southwest Philadelphia, spoke about the economic benefits for local workers. “TerraPower Isotopes’ groundbreaking new facility will create good-paying permanent jobs, strong opportunities for our skilled building trades, and place Philadelphia at the forefront of innovation.”
Construction is expected to begin soon, and TerraPower expects the facility to begin operations in 2029.
For residents living near the redevelopment site, the refinery explosion remains a vivid memory. Shawmar Pitts, a member of the environmental justice organization Philly Thrive, recalled the day of the disaster.
“It just blew up!” Pitts said. “That day was like one of those days you’ve always dreaded, and then you say, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s happening.”
Philly Thrive spent years protesting refinery operations at the site. Pitts said the organization supports the replacement of the refinery with different types of industry but wants commitments for local residents.
“We want a community benefits agreement,” Pitts said, adding that the group continues monitoring land safety as development moves forward.
Karen Fegely described the redevelopment as an opportunity for the city. “It’s really exciting to see this new life at Bellwether District,” she said. “It’s a really important time and a really important opportunity for Philadelphia.”
