Radiant’s Post

Wow! recent agreements by technology companies to lock up clean, reliable nuclear power for data centers are sending shockwaves for those of us concerned about the ability of our country's energy sector/grids to meet our exploding demand for electricity. We need to quickly add more nuclear power generation throughout the national grid (in addition to other sources) to maintain stability and to protect life. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission must support this urgent national need by developing a comprehensive safety license process for advanced reactors which are engineered and fueled for safety and easier deployment. Brian McCormack Jim Howe Jeffrey "Jeff" C. Crater L. David Cherington Kimberly VanWyhe Ted J. Garrish Michael Kappaz Dominique Cooper Richard G Kidd IV Grace Stanke Andrew Richards Christopher Ploch, Esq. Jess Gehin             #nuclear #advancednuclearpower #nuclearenergy #nuclearpower #cleanenergy #renewables #renewableenergy #Advancednuclearreactor #environment #UCANpower #energy #power https://lnkd.in/eqy5BM9Y

I encourage everyone to read the following article published today in the Wall Street Journal, entitled "Tech Industry Wants to Lock Up Nuclear Power for AI," https://lnkd.in/eGqT7wFv. The article reports that Amazon and other Big Tech firms are "scouring the country for electricity supplies [and] have zeroed in on a key target: America’s nuclear-power plants." According to the article, "owners of roughly a third of U.S. nuclear-power plants are in talks with tech companies to provide electricity to new data centers needed to meet the demands of an artificial-intelligence boom." The article explains that proposed deals between Big Tech firms and nuclear power plants "have the potential to remove stable power generation from the grid while reliability concerns are rising across much of the U.S." As a result of such deals, "instead of adding new green energy to meet their soaring power needs, tech companies would be effectively diverting existing electricity resources. That could raise prices for other customers and hold back emission-cutting goals." Negotiations for these deals are reportedly occurring secretly and without public hearings that would consider their potential averse impacts on consumers, the adequacy and reliability of our electric grid, and the achievement of carbon reduction goals. As I've said in previous posts, why are we allowing Big Tech firms to engage in a headlong and reckless race to develop AI programs without proper regulatory oversight and without a full public consideration of the impact of massive AI data centers on our energy and water supplies as well as the manifold other risks that AI poses to the welfare of society?

Tech Industry Wants to Lock Up Nuclear Power for AI Largest tech companies are looking to buy nuclear power directly from plants, which could sap the grid of critical resources. Tech companies scouring the country for electricity supplies have zeroed in on a key target: America’s nuclear-power plants. The owners of roughly a third of U.S. nuclear-power plants are in talks with tech companies to provide electricity to new data centers needed to meet the demands of an artificial-intelligence boom.  Among them, Amazon Web Services is nearing a deal for electricity supplied directly from a nuclear plant on the East Coast with Constellation Energy, the largest owner of U.S. nuclear-power plants. In a separate deal in March, the Amazon.com subsidiary purchased a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania for $650 million. The discussions have the potential to remove stable power generation from the grid while reliability concerns are rising across much of the U.S. and new kinds of electricity users—including AI, manufacturing and transportation—are significantly increasing the demand for electricity in pockets of the country. Nuclear-powered data centers would match the grid’s highest-reliability workhorse with a wealthy customer that wants 24-7 carbon-free power, likely speeding the addition of data centers needed in the global AI race. But instead of adding new green energy to meet their soaring power needs, tech companies would be effectively diverting existing electricity resources. That could raise prices for other customers and hold back emission-cutting goals.  Even if tech companies were to offset nuclear-power deals by funding the addition of renewable energy, experts say the likely result is more reliance on natural gas to replace diverted nuclear power. Natural gas-fired plants produce carbon emissions but, unlike renewables, can provide round-the-clock power and are cheaper and more practical to build than new nuclear plants. The nuclear-tech marriage is fueling tensions over economic development, grid reliability, cost and climate goals in states including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Capital Innovations, LLC #EnergyTransition

Nuclear power has struggled to compete on a cost basis with other methods of energy generation due to the maintenance and oversight required to safely operate nuclear power plants. Will the AI boom and big data centers lead a resurgence for the reliable, carbon-free electric produced by nuclear power? The next few years will be facinating to watch for the industy!

The explosive growth in data centers confirms that AI is real and the need for enormous amounts of 24x7 energy to support it are uniquely met by nuclear power. The importance of the existing fleet of plants and efforts to expand this capability through new builds, life extension, and power updates is becoming an energy industry imperative. https://lnkd.in/exTmPWx5

To fuel the rapid expansion of AI and meet ESG commitments, data centers seek carbon-free electricity. Enter nuclear power. Interesting that latest tech is reinvigorating legacy tech. I'm curious to see how the power grid will evolve to reliably satisfy growing energy consumption. What do you predict?

Technology companies are seeking to harness nuclear power to support the data centers fueling the artificial intelligence boom. About 1/3 of U.S. nuclear plants are currently in talks with tech firms, including Amazon. But rather than generating new green energy, tech companies would be redirecting electricity, potentially increasing costs for consumers and hindering emission-reduction efforts. Even if tech firms do invest in renewable energy, experts say it could lead to greater dependence on natural gas. #ai #amazon #bigtech #energy #fusion #fusionenergy #generativeai #kronosfusionenergy #nuclearpower #techindustry #technology #wsj

Everyone talks about AI first, then #nvdia , #amd , etc. but tends to ignore the huge amount of energy consumption behind AI development, which we look at from a Cloud Usage standpoint. As stated in the linked research, AI, manufacturing, and transportation are significantly increasing the electricity demand, making it a natural move to clean energy. Looking across all key Cloud Service Providers on the market, all of them are racing towards a sustainable future: 🚀 Amazon Web Services (AWS): 🎯 100% renewable energy by 2025. 🎯 Net-zero carbon by 2040. 🌱 Investing in solar and wind projects. 🚀 Microsoft Azure 🎯 Carbon negative by 2030. 🎯 Remove all historical emissions by 2050. 💧 Water-positive initiatives. 🚀 Google Cloud 🎯 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030. 🎯 Net-zero emissions across all operations by 2030. 🤖 AI-optimized data centers. 🚀 IBM Cloud 🎯 Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 🤖 AI and hybrid cloud solutions for sustainability. 🚀 Oracle Cloud 🎯 100% renewable energy in data centers by 2025. 🌱 Efficient cooling and power management. 🔋 Investing in renewables. 🚀 Alibaba Cloud 🎯 Carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. #carbonfootprint #sustainability #cleanenergy #cloud #datacenter

Ontario's recent provincial budget announced big new investment in nuclear to build up the province's electricity capacity...and the U.S. is looking at doing the same; here's an announcement re: recommissioning a nuclear facility on the shores of Lake Michigan. AI + data centres + electric vehicles = rising electricity demands. Ever wonder why China is investing in all that new electricity generation, much of it still coal? It's not just about electric vehicles- we're in an AI war and AI needs power. #nuclear #electricity #nuclearenergy #HydroOne #AI #poweringAI

The Wall Street Journal article on Tech-Nuclear Power marriage, behind-the-meter deals and the tech industry’s growing demand for #nuclear power to fuel #AI and #datacenters that is making headlines. But beneath the surface, there are critical issues that deserve attention.The article highlights how data centers and tech companies are eager to secure nuclear power deals but overlooks the nuclear waste management challenge. *** #NuclearWaste Oversight: While the allure of nuclear energy lies in its reliability and low greenhouse gas emissions, we must not overlook the long-lasting radioactive waste it generates *** #YuccaMountain Debacle: The ambitious geologic nuclear waste repository project in Nevada that consumed billions of dollars. It was ultimately dismissed due to technical and political challenges. Yet, the need for safe waste disposal remains. *** #SmallModularReactor (#SMR): These compact nuclear reactors, touted as the future of energy, promise cost savings and safety benefits. However, 2022 study by Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, reveals a surprising twist: SMRs may actually produce more radioactive waste than their larger counterparts. Neutron reflectors and chemically reactive fuels contribute to this excess waste volume. *** Decay Heat and #Radiochemistry: SMRs won’t reduce the generation of key fission products like iodine-129, technetium-99, and selenium-79—critical for assessing repository performance. Additionally, SMR spent fuel contains relatively high concentrations of fissile nuclides, posing challenges for storage and disposal. As the world seeks cleaner #energy solutions, we must grapple with the complexities of #nuclearpower. Let’s engage in informed discussions about waste management, safety, and the delicate balance between #innovation and responsibility.