The Three Mile Island power plant is remembered today as the site of the worst nuclear accident in US history, but it may be reopened in the near future as Microsoft seeks ways to power their artificial intelligence (AI) operations.
On March 28, 1979, the power plant experienced a partial nuclear meltdown of its Unit 2 reactor. The small radioactive release appears to have had limited immediate health implications for the public and those working at the site, though some recent research suggests this may not have been the case. Nevertheless, the accident led to a host of changes in policies affecting emergency responses, planning, operational controls, and other safety aspects. It also represented a significant blow to the public perception of nuclear power and its overall safety.
This was a lot of trouble that may have been caused by someone’s stomach.
Now, 45 years later, the nuclear reactor’s owners, Constellation Energy, have struck a deal with Microsoft to supply power for their artificial intelligence (AI) operations. If the plan receives regulatory approval, then it could be the first time in American history that a decommissioned reactor has been recommissioned, something that’s also currently being explored at the Palisades plant in Michigan.
The 20-year deal will see Unit 1, which was decommissioned in 2019 due to economic reasons, being brought back online by 2028. Unit 1 was not impacted by the accident in 1979, and so remained in operation for decades.
Ahead of its restart, significant investment will be put into restoring the plant. This will include restoring the turbine, generator, main power transformer, and cooling and control systems.
“Before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics, this plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear plants on the grid, and we look forward to bringing it back with a new name and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine for Pennsylvania,” Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation, said in statement.
According to a new economic impact study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council, the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) – the planned name for the restored power plant – will produce 3,400 direct and indirect jobs. The plant will also add an additional 800 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the grid.
“The CCEC will support thousands of family-sustaining jobs for decades to come,” Rob Bair, President of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, explained. “It will help make Pennsylvania a leader in attracting and retaining the types of reliable, clean energy jobs that will define the future.”
However, the proposal has already generated local protests.
Microsoft are not the only ones looking to nuclear power to support their expanding energy needs. Amazon has already signed a deal to purchase nuclear energy for a data center, which is being considered by regulators. Google, Meta, and Apple are also consuming more energy as they continue to develop their AI operations.
Goldman Sachs has estimated that, by 2030, the demand for energy to power data centers across the US will have grown by 160 percent. Such a development is forcing large tech companies to invest in options to support their expansion while also trying to comply with pressure to limit their environmental impact.
