- Amazon partners with X-energy and Energy Northwest to deploy twelve modular reactors
- Cascade Advanced Energy Facility to anchor one-gigawatt nuclear project
- Each Xe-100 reactor will generate 80 megawatts of scalable clean energy
Amazon has revealed plans to build 12 small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) through a partnership with X-energy and Energy Northwest, aiming to reach a combined output of approximately 1 GW over the next decade.
The Cascade Advanced Energy facility, to be developed near Richland, Washington, will form the backbone of this new initiative.
Amazon says the project is part of a long-term strategy to bring more than 5 GW of new nuclear power to the US grid by 2039.
Driving the rise of AI and cloud services
If Amazon’s plan is successful, it will be one of the largest venture-backed clean energy companies to date, and the new reactors are expected to provide carbon-free electricity to power its expanding digital ecosystem, including its artificial intelligence tools, large-scale data centers and cloud storage systems.
As AI drives growing computing demand, renewables like solar and wind often lack the stability needed for continuous operation. However, nuclear power offers 24-hour reliability.
The SMR project is therefore seen as a way to ensure a continuous supply of power to the infrastructure that supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other digital operations.
“This project isn’t just about new technology, it’s about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that supports our growing digital world,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer.
The Cascade project will utilize X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design, a next-generation modular system built for scalability and security.
Each unit will generate around 80 MW of power and its modular construction will allow for faster deployment than traditional nuclear plants.
Local workforce readiness is already underway through the Department of Energy-funded Columbia Basin College Energy Learning Center, which will house a high-fidelity simulator replicating the Xe-100 control room in a bid to train operators, engineers and technicians for high-paying roles once the Cascade reactors enter service.
Amazon says the project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent technical positions.
The project will also support Washington State’s goal of diversifying its clean energy portfolio.
However, critics point out that nuclear projects face long approval times and high upfront costs.
Construction of the first reactors is scheduled to begin towards the end of this decade and they are expected to come online in the early 2030s.
Amazon has also partnered with Talen Energy to develop a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
SMRs are smaller and potentially safer, but whether they will deliver on their promise of clean, scalable and cost-effective energy remains to be seen.
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