Amazon, AEP and X-energy eye 960MW nuclear plant at former Indiana coal site. AEP, X-energy and Amazon will study a 12-reactor, 960MW small modular reactor project at a retired coal plant site in Indiana, with Amazon funding development and buying the power. American Electric Power (AEP), reactor developer X-energy and Amazon have agreed to explore building a 960-megawatt advanced nuclear plant on the site of a retired coal-fired station in Sullivan County, Indiana, with Amazon set to fund development and buy the electricity, trade publication Utility Dive reported on Monday. The proposal centres on 12 of X-energy's Xe-100 small modular reactors, each rated at 80MW. According to POWER Magazine, the units would be arranged in three blocks of four, giving 320MW per block. The plant would sit at or near the former Breed Generating Station, a coal plant once run by AEP subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power. Under the joint development agreement announced on 19 October, Amazon will provide development funding, which X-energy said would be tied to milestones, and intends to buy the plant's output under a long-term contract. AEP said that contract would cover the cost of the facility and its operations for its full duration, shielding the utility's existing customers from the financial risk that has long dogged new nuclear builds. AEP chairman, president and chief executive Bill Fehrman said the deals offer the company 'all necessary capital protections and financial safeguards' it has insisted on before backing any nuclear project. He added that the plan would help the utility meet surging demand with reliable baseload power while keeping bills affordable for current customers. Josh Weissman, Amazon's vice-president of data centre infrastructure capacity delivery, said the aim was to add nearly a gigawatt of carbon-free power to the regional grid and 'pay our full costs without passing them to others'. Amazon tied the project to its participation in the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge and to its goal of reaching net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040. Indiana Governor Mike Braun said the project could strengthen the state's grid and position Indiana as a national leader in advanced nuclear energy. Sullivan County takes part in the state's Advanced Nuclear Ready Communities Program, run by the Indiana Office of Energy Development, which recognises localities that have taken concrete steps to welcome new reactors. Big Tech's nuclear push. The Indiana plan is Amazon's second nuclear deal in as many weeks. On 30 September, the company signed a 20-year, 690MW power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy tied to expanding and upgrading the Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland, Utility Dive noted. Amazon's ties to X-energy date back to 2024, when its Climate Pledge Fund led the reactor developer's Series C-1 round, which ultimately closed at US$700 million. The two companies are working to bring more than 5 gigawatts of new US nuclear capacity online by 2039. Indiana would be the second deployment under that partnership, after Energy Northwest's planned Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington state, and X-energy's third announced commercial Xe-100 project in the US, alongside a four-reactor plant planned at Dow's Seadrift complex in Texas. Electricity demand from data centres is reshaping utility planning in the state. Indiana Michigan Power expects its peak load in Indiana to rise to more than 7,000MW by 2030, up from 2,800MW. The deal also follows a busy stretch for AEP, which last week unveiled a roughly US$4 billion, 702MW Bloom Energy fuel cell development in Wyoming to serve Google. What's next. The project remains at the feasibility stage. The companies have not disclosed a cost estimate, contract price, construction timetable or a licensing route with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Construction would go ahead only after a final investment decision. If built, POWER Magazine said, the plant could run for more than 60 years. July 4, 2024 In "Business News" On November 29, 2022, meeting of Global Alliance of Leaders for Nuclear Security and Nuclear-Weapon-Free World (GAL), which unites political leaders, diplomats, experts, Nobel peace prize laureates, heads of international NGOs from 45 countries, was held at Dialogue of Continents forum in Paris.The participants discussed challenges over the war in... December 20, 2022 In "Business News" January 21, 2026 In "Nuclear"

Future data centers offer promise but also pressures. March 12, 2026 From Wallula Gap to West Richland and Richland's Horn Rapids corridor, Eastern Washington is rapidly emerging as a major data center corridor, bringing both opportunity and complex questions about infrastructure, energy and economic impact. But the boom also has sparked debate. Data centers require vast amounts of electricity and water, create relatively few permanent jobs once construction ends, and can put pressure on local infrastructure if growth outpaces planning. Those realities deserve serious consideration even as the region competes for investment. Washington set a new record for data center leasing in 2025, with Central Washington's inventory nearly doubling to over 400 megawatts as demand surges, especially from cloud and AI providers, according to CBRE Group Inc., a Dallas-based commercial real estate services and investment firm. About 35 miles south of us, Hermiston, Oregon, is already a recognized regional leader in data center development. With multiple operational campuses - driven by Amazon Web Services - Hermiston's proactive planning and rapid growth sets a high bar. Its experience offers valuable lessons and momentum for the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities, as these hubs strengthen the Pacific Northwest's digital infrastructure. Major regional projects underway include: - A roughly $4.8 billion data center campus at Wallula Gap, led by Amazon Web Services and planned as a multiphase build spanning millions of square feet. Read more on page B1. - A developer who has expressed interest in developing a large data center campus in West Richland. - An option agreement in Richland with Atlas Agro for hundreds of acres at Horn Rapids Road that could host data centers. Energy innovation is also central to the region's strategy. Energy Northwest and Amazon are advancing small modular reactors near Richland to deliver clean, reliable power that can sustain growth into the next decade. Washington lawmakers are balancing growth incentives with cost management. Recent proposals to revise tax exemptions on server equipment and impose energy and water regulations reflect concerns about environmental impacts and public costs. Although some efforts have stalled under industry pushback, ongoing policy discussions in Olympia highlight the need for frameworks supporting economic development without sacrificing sustainability or ratepayer equity. These debates will shape Washington's data center future - and how the Tri-Cities competes with Oregon's established hubs. The Tri-Cities exemplify how digital infrastructure fuels local economies - from construction jobs to technical employment and expanded tax bases. Yet challenges remain: matching electricity demand, protecting water resources, paying for upgrades and ensuring policies protect ratepayers while enabling growth. The regional data center boom is coming. With abundant land, affordable clean power and an experienced talent pool, the Tri-Cities can become the nation's premier digital infrastructure hub. But the real opportunity lies in getting the balance right and pairing rapid growth with environmental responsibility, sound energy planning and meaningful returns for local communities.