US Government Explores Dedicated Nuclear Power for Data Centers

June 8, 2024

The high demand for energy that AI brings via data centers is raising questions about how to increase the energy supply without significant harm to the environment. The US administration is discussing ways to reduce carbon emissions from data centers, which could consume up to 9% of total electricity generated in the country by the end of the decade according to a report by the Electric Power Research Institute. To achieve this goal, tech companies and utilities are exploring options such as small modular reactors (SMRs) for nuclear energy. The White House has announced new measures to spur development of new US nuclear power plants, a potential source of carbon-free electricity. Tech companies are also considering other clean energy technologies, including geothermal.