Texas’ nuclear boom needs workers as data centers drive demand
Texas is facing a significant workforce shortage in its nuclear energy sector, despite a boom driven by the immense power demands of new data centers. The state and its universities are investing in small modular reactors and research to expand nuclear capacity, addressing both energy and water supply challenges for this rapid growth.
Texas is confronting a critical need for an expanded nuclear energy workforce to support the escalating energy demands of the state's rapidly growing data center industry. With a projected surge of over 70% in energy demand by 2031, largely attributed to data centers, and estimates of the grid's total average demand tripling by 2050, state leaders recognize nuclear power as a key solution. Industry experts, including Danielle Zigon from the University of Texas's nuclear engineering program, highlight the dual challenge of providing power and water solutions.
The nuclear industry in Texas, which houses the Comanche Peak and South Texas Project nuclear plants, is rebounding from decades of stagnation. Governor Greg Abbott established the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group, and the state Legislature has allocated $350 million to bolster nuclear power infrastructure. Instead of large traditional plants, Texas is becoming a hub for small modular reactors (SMRs), which can co-locate with or power data centers. Projects include Last Energy bringing SMRs to Haskell County, the Texas Tech University System's plan for a 5,800-acre power campus in the Texas Panhandle to power 18 million square feet of data centers, and Texas A&M offering land in Bryan for SMRs to power a campus data center. Abilene Christian University is also developing a research reactor with Natura Resources, which is building salt reactors in the Permian Basin and at Texas A&M.
Despite these significant investments and project announcements, Texas faces a major workforce deficit. The state currently has around 3,000 nuclear energy jobs, but this is expected to more than triple to at least 10,000 advanced nuclear jobs within three to five years. This shortage is compounded by an aging workforce and insufficient new talent. The Legislature has passed bills to encourage the Texas Workforce Commission and universities to invest in developing the advanced nuclear workforce, and companies are actively recruiting from other energy sectors to bridge the gap.