Tech Revives Nuclear

Big tech has well and truly gone nuclear. Amazon’s announcement today that it has signed three deals for the development of nuclear power reactors—including leading a $500 million funding round for a reactor developer called X-energy (not related to the X-obsessed Elon Musk)—demonstrates clearly how the tech industry is helping to revive nuclear power in the U.S. after years of decline. Yes, some of us have gotten over the trauma left by “The China Syndrome.”

Two days ago, Google signed a power purchase agreement with a California nuclear energy startup, Kairos Power, while last month Microsoft agreed to a similar purchase agreement with energy firm Constellation. Microsoft’s deal got headlines because it will lead to Constellation restarting part of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, although—we add hastily—not the part that scared millions of people out of their wits in 1979 by nearly melting down.