Amazon is on a quest for clean energy and plans to invest $500 million to develop a small nuclear reactor to power its data centers. The tech company has signed an agreement with Dominion Energy, Virginia’s utility company, to build their reactor near the existing Dominion North Anna Nuclear Power Station. Amazon committed to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and a nuclear reactor could produce electricity with zero-emissions.
Although the word “nuclear” frightens most people, nuclear power is considered a source of clean energy that makes little to no impact on the environment. Companies like Westinghouse Electric, Duke Energy, and NextEra Energy power their operations using clean energy provided by nuclear power, and more well-known corporations like Google are investing in the technology and plan to do the same.
How does nuclear energy work? Nuclear power plants use uranium as fuel to create a chain reaction that produces heat. The heat warms water, which turns to steam that spins turbine to generate electricity. When the plants are monitored and maintained, they provide the most reliable source of energy that exists and are considered safe for the environment. Yet public opinion surrounding nuclear energy is negative because of how nuclear waste is disposed, and the potential for nuclear accidents.
Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Fukushima are three of the worst nuclear radiation accidents in history that most people think of when hearing about a nuclear plant being built in their area. Although today’s nuclear power plants are designed to be safer, they still carry a risk of accidents that could lead to public radiation exposure. To reduce those risks, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission created strict guidelines and safety measures that nuclear plants must follow. These include numerous inspections per year, plant assessments, and shutdown inspections that can last between 1 and 6 months.
Regardless of its negative connotations, nuclear energy is the future for our country and may be the one thing that can save our planet from the harmful effects of climate change. It’s nice to see a company like Amazon on a quest for clean energy. If they lead, many more will follow.