Amazon's Nuclear Future: Small Reactors, Big Plans

Amazon isn't just thinking about the future—it's investing in it. The tech giant is betting big on small modular reactors (SMRs), a new kind of nuclear power plant that's smaller and faster to build than traditional ones. In the early 2030s, if everything goes as planned, these SMRs could help power Amazon's massive data centers without adding any carbon pollution to the atmosphere. One of Amazon's new deals is with Energy Northwest, a group of public utilities in Washington state. Together, they're exploring the idea of building four SMRs near an existing nuclear power plant in Richland. If all goes well, these reactors could generate enough electricity to power over 770,000 homes. But that's just the beginning. The plan includes the option to build even more reactors, up to 12 in total, which would generate enough power for more homes and businesses in the area. Amazon is also putting money into a startup called X-energy. This company is developing a new design for nuclear reactors, which could be used in the Washington project. X-energy has big plans too—they want to bring more than 5,000 megawatts of new SMRs online in the US by 2039. That's a lot of power! To make this happen, Amazon and X-energy are working together to create a new model for building and financing these projects. In Virginia, Amazon has teamed up with Dominion Energy to study the idea of building an SMR project near an existing nuclear power station. Virginia is a hotspot for data centers, and the demand for electricity is expected to double in the next 15 years. An SMR project could help meet that growing need. But these SMR projects aren't a sure thing yet. They still need to get regulatory approval and face economic challenges. Plus, there are concerns about the environmental and health risks of nuclear power, like mining and storing radioactive waste.