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Tech companies are increasingly turning to nuclear power to fuel their energy-hungry AI infrastructure projects, including Amazon, which just announced plans for a new nuclear power plant.
The e-commerce giant announced Monday that it has signed an agreement with nuclear startup X-energy and American Electric Power (AEP) to explore building a nuclear power plant in Indiana.
Under the proposed partnership, the three companies aim to build 12 of X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactors at the site of the former Breed Generating Station coal plant. The goal is to add 960 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to Indiana’s power grid while also powering Amazon’s data centers.
Amazon said in a blog post that it would help fund the project’s development and become the first customer to purchase electricity from the plant once it’s operational. The company also estimates that the facility could create more than 1,000 temporary construction jobs and more than 100 permanent positions.
“We don’t disclose exact figures, however, Amazon is investing billions in nuclear energy projects and technologies,” an Amazon spokesperson told Gizmodo in an emailed statement.
Still, the Xe-100 reactors are currently in development and are undergoing licensing. Amazon argues that plants using these advanced reactors could also use air-cooled, water-cooled, or hybrid cooling systems, potentially allowing them to operate in water-constrained regions without competing with local communities for water.
The facility could be completed as early as the mid-2030s, although that timeline could change as the project develops, reported the South Bend Tribune, citing an X-energy representative.
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