Lawmakers Turn to Nuclear Power to Fuel Tech Growth

Lawmakers are backing nuclear energy to meet the rising electricity demands of tech firms and data centers.

In order to fulfill the increasing electricity demands of the tech industry, lawmakers are looking to nuclear energy as a key solution, as artificial intelligence requires more and more power. This week, a House subcommittee held a hearing where lawmakers and business leaders discussed ways to make it easier for nuclear facilities to supply power to large data centers.

Policymakers are working together to promote initiatives that would enable tech firms to meet their ambitious goals in artificial intelligence. Representatives from both parties asked the nuclear sector about how it could support its development during Thursday’s hearing of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's energy subcommittee. During the hearing, Representative Brian Babin from Texas stated that this plan of action is not only smart for energy but also for the economy. In addition to creating well-paying jobs, it would earn millions of dollars in tax revenue that might otherwise be missed. Microsoft reached an agreement with Constellation Energy late last year to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, which is known for being the site of the worst nuclear accident in the nation. Also, Constellation and Meta Platforms signed a two-decade deal earlier this month to use the Clinton Clean Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Clinton, Illinois, to power Meta’s AI activities.

States are also taking action to support nuclear power. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign a bill to establish an agency dedicated to advanced nuclear energy that will help the industry overcome financial challenges and improve its supply chain.