New Energy
AI’s Power Needs Means New Nuclear Power Tech Can’t Fail, US Energy Official Says
Engineers walk in the installation of a unit that conducts experimental studies on Small Modular Reactors in Saint-Paul-les-Durance, France.
Photographer: Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty ImagesSurging electricity demand for artificial intelligence and data centers means next-generation nuclear power “can’t fail,” according to a top US Energy Department official.
David Crane, undersecretary for infrastructure at the department, said he’s now “very bullish” on emerging designs for so-called small modular reactors. That’s a significant shift from his earlier stance, when “I didn’t really see” a case for using the technology.