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AI is a power hog. According to the WSJ, roughly a third of domestic nuclear power plants are in talks with tech giants to supply carbon-free power for AI operations, driving a significant shift in the power industry.
For example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) is nearing a deal with Constellation Energy, the largest U.S. nuclear plant owner, to secure power for an East Coast data center. This follows AWS's $650 million purchase of a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
However, this deal (and other similar pending deals) are raising concerns about grid stability and costs. Diverting nuclear power from the grid to data centers could lead to higher electricity prices and hinder emission-reduction goals. Tech companies say they will offset these deals by investing in renewable energy. Experts counter that renewables alone can't fill the gap and that the industry will be forced to build new natural gas plants, which would end up increasing carbon emissions.
The nuclear-tech alliance has sparked debates on economic development, grid reliability, and climate objectives in states like Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Connecticut Sen. Norm Needleman highlighted the risk of losing carbon-free resources, questioning the replacement strategy. New Jersey's Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) and other utilities are also exploring direct power sales to data centers.
Despite the potential benefits, such as accelerating data center construction and avoiding transmission charges, the implications for the broader power grid remain contentious. The PJM Interconnection, covering 13 states and Washington, D.C., is working to mitigate reliability issues. American Electric Power and Exelon have raised concerns about cost shifts to other customers due to Amazon’s Pennsylvania deal.
What's the bottom line? The power has to come from somewhere. Add in the extra electricity needed for EV (electric vehicles), and we're looking at a very power-hungry future. Is nuclear the answer?
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