Nuclear reactors could power TRIC, commissioner says
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission commissioner suggests that nuclear reactors could power data centers at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Northern Nevada to address high electricity and water demands. This approach aims to alleviate strain on the local power grid and reduce dependence on potable water for cooling, a key concern for local opposition. However, regulatory challenges, nuclear waste management, and existing political opposition to nuclear facilities in Nevada remain significant hurdles.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Commissioner Brad Crowell discussed the potential for nuclear reactors to power data centers at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) in Northern Nevada, a solution he shared on Nevada Newsmakers. This idea stems from the immense power and water demands of modern data centers, particularly for Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing, which have led to significant local opposition due to fears of grid strain, rolling blackouts, increased energy bills, and water depletion in the arid state.
Crowell suggested that data storage facilities could build their own nuclear power plants, operating "behind-the-meter" to avoid burdening the community's grid. He noted that major hyperscalers like Google, Meta, and Amazon are already exploring co-locating new nuclear power near their data centers. Companies such as Elemental Nuclear are developing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors, with some potentially ready by 2030 or 2031, though Crowell termed this timeline "aggressive."
Opposition to data centers in Northern Nevada largely centers on water consumption. Crowell highlighted that new nuclear technologies, unlike traditional "light water" reactors, could use coolants like helium gas, molten salt, or liquid metal, drastically reducing water needs. He praised TRIC's existing system, which uses a 16-mile, $100 million pipeline to supply millions of gallons of reclaimed water from the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility to data centers, including Switch, and other industrial facilities in Storey County, thereby protecting local aquifers. This reclaimed water system could also serve future SMRs at the park.
Despite the potential benefits, Crowell expressed concerns about the pace of regulatory changes within the NRC, fearing that a push for speed could compromise safety and security. He also addressed the challenge of nuclear waste management, noting that while new reactors' waste volume is being studied, traditional dry-cask storage would likely be used in the interim. A major political obstacle for nuclear power in Nevada remains the state's long-standing opposition to the Yucca Mountain nuclear-waste repository, which could conflict with the willingness to host nuclear energy facilities. Crowell emphasized that a decision on this higher-level political quandary must precede any widespread nuclear deployment in the state.