SRS a keystone of a nuclear renaissance in the Southeast, DOE Asst. Sec. Walsh says
DOE Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh said the Savannah River Site could become a major nuclear energy hub supporting AI data centers and other advanced industries. He highlighted plans to restart the H-Canyon facility, produce mixed-oxide fuel and potentially build two to four advanced reactors, while citing the site's available power, water and land.
Tim Walsh, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management, described the Savannah River Site near Aiken as a foundation for a Southeast nuclear renaissance and future digital infrastructure. Speaking to DOE and contractor leaders at the Savannah River National Laboratory’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, Walsh said affordable nuclear power would be necessary for AI data centers, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Walsh said the DOE plans to restart the site’s H-Canyon fuel-reprocessing facility by the first quarter of 2028 and is working with the private sector on mixed-oxide fuel made from plutonium and uranium. He envisioned two to four reactors at the site, citing its existing nuclear expertise, substantial land and access to as much as 300 million gallons of Savannah River water per day, while also acknowledging proliferation and spent-fuel disposal concerns.