Westinghouse’s CEO revealed talks with U.S. officials this week to deploy 10 large nuclear reactors as part of a broader push to back nuclear energy as data centers drive energy demand skyward. Soon after, AMZN unveiled a $20 billion plan to build data centers in Pennsylvania, including one adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear plant with which it recently partnered. Paired with the MSFT-CEG deal, the moves underscore Big Tech’s accelerating shift toward nuclear to secure reliable, low-carbon power for the AI era.
Our analysis indicates that a new AP1000 reactor with a capacity of 1.1 GW would cost around $8.6 billion, based on data from the EIA. This would bring Westinghouse’s deployment of 10 reactors to a cost of $86 billion, exceeding the DOE’s estimate of $75 billion and marking one of the largest private pushes for nuclear energy in recent memory.
This market shift is further reinforced by recent U.S. executive orders aimed at accelerating the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. The directives streamline approvals, encourage private investment and prioritize nuclear power for AI infrastructure and national security facilities. Together, these policy changes and the surge in long-term power purchase agreements signal that nuclear is moving from the margins to a practical, scalable solution to meet AI’s energy demands sustainably.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nano Nuclear Energy is developing microreactors compact enough to fit on a truck. These pint-sized power plants could be game changers for remote communities, disaster relief zones and other off-grid applications.
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