Amazon Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plant in Washington State

Amazon has unveiled plans for its inaugural nuclear power facility, the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, to be located in Washington State. The project aims to generate up to 960 megawatts of electricity using twelve small modular reactors (SMRs). This initiative marks a substantial move toward achieving a carbon-free energy supply to support the growing demands of Amazon’s data centers and artificial intelligence applications.

The Cascade facility is designed to be compact, significantly differing from traditional nuclear power plants that typically require vast amounts of land. The twelve SMR units will occupy a space no larger than a few city blocks, allowing for a more efficient use of land. The facility will initially consist of four reactors, each capable of producing 320 megawatts, with plans to expand to the full capacity of twelve units as energy needs increase.

Investment and Collaboration

Amazon is spearheading a funding round of approximately $500 million for X-energy, the developer of the SMR technology. This investment, classified as Series C-1, is intended to enhance the development and implementation of small modular reactors. The technology is still in the developmental phase and must demonstrate its commercial viability before full-scale deployment.

In collaboration with Energy Northwest, Amazon aims to realize over 5 gigawatts of new nuclear energy projects across the United States by the year 2039. This effort reflects a broader trend among technology companies, including Google and Microsoft, which have also announced investments in nuclear energy to meet the escalating power needs of their operations.

Impact on Local Economy and Workforce

Construction of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility is slated to commence at the end of this decade, with the first reactors expected to be operational in the 2030s. The project is projected to create over 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, along with more than 100 permanent positions once the facility is operational.

According to Ben Reinke, a representative from X-energy, the transition to new technology like this poses significant challenges. He noted, “It’s a difficult thing – adopting new technology like this and bringing it to market.”

In addition to the facility, Columbia Basin College in nearby Pasco has received funding from the Department of Energy to establish an Energy Learning Center. This center will feature a simulator replicating the control room of X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor, providing essential training for specialists in the nuclear energy field.

As Amazon embarks on this ambitious project, it underscores the growing recognition of nuclear energy as a viable solution to meet the rising energy demands of modern technology while striving for sustainability.