Nuclear

Feds deal blow to dream of data centers connected to nuclear plants

Amazon and Talen Energy can’t fast-track expansion of a data center connected to a Pennsylvania nuclear plant. Will other nuclear “colocation” deals fall through?

By Jeff St. John . 6 November 2024

The cooling towers of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, majority-owned by Talen Energy. (Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

Nuclear

Google signs deal to use small nuclear reactors to power data centers

The tech giant is in search of a lot of 24/7 carbon-free electricity. It’s betting that a fleet of advanced reactors from Kairos can provide some of it — eventually.

By Eric Wesoff . 14 October 2024
Nuclear

To meet US nuclear goals, big reactors need to get built today, DOE says

A new DOE report suggests that the path to a U.S. nuclear renaissance runs not through SMRs or fusion but the repeated construction of familiar large-scale reactors.

By Eric Wesoff . 11 October 2024
Nuclear

The hottest trend in nuclear power: Reopening shuttered plants

The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan just closed a $1.5B federal loan to reopen, the latest in a push to restart retired nuclear plants amid rising power demand.

By Eric Wesoff . 30 September 2024
Nuclear

Last Energy nabs $40M to realize vision of super-small nuclear reactors

The startup wants to mass-manufacture 20MW nuclear reactors that can be built and shipped within 24 months. It’s looking to get its first reactor online in Europe.

By Eric Wesoff . 29 August 2024
Nuclear

Data centers want to tap existing nuclear power. Is that good or bad?

Tech giants are working to divert zero-carbon, round-the-clock nuclear power to massive new data centers. Regulators and climate advocates are concerned.

By Jeff St. John . 12 August 2024
Nuclear

The US nuclear industry is stuck. Can this startup get it rolling again?

The Nuclear Company launched last week with big ambitions and a fresh thesis. Now all that’s left is the hard part: building nuclear reactors.

By Eric Wesoff . 25 July 2024
Nuclear

Will a new law and lots of cash be enough to jumpstart next-gen nuclear?

Recent bipartisan legislation and a fresh $900M in DOE funding aim to boost the nation’s moribund nuclear sector, but industry asks for more

By Eric Wesoff . 1 July 2024
Nuclear

Nuclear fusion startup Xcimer raises $100M to chase laser-based power

The lure of fusion’s awesome energy potential continues to draw interest from entrepreneurs and investors alike — despite the tech being far from viability.

By Eric Wesoff . 4 June 2024
Nuclear

Michigan nuclear plant aims to be first ever to reopen in US

The Palisades Nuclear Plant won a $1.5B conditional federal loan to reopen. Plant owner Holtec plans to move fast — but the path ahead is murky.

By Eric Wesoff . 28 March 2024
Nuclear

When will the next nuclear plant come online in the US? No one knows

Canary conducted an informal survey of nuclear industry watchers, enthusiasts and nerds — and the responses were all over the map.

By Eric Wesoff . 18 January 2024