Washington nuclear comeback gains steam

• Lawmakers in Olympia have considered several measures aimed at studying or supporting new nuclear development, including proposals to create a nuclear advisory commission and direct the state to develop a strategic framework for advanced reactors.

Yes, but: It's not just artificial intelligence driving that demand, Brandon Oyer, Amazon's head of energy and water for the Americas, told Axios. Consumers are also driving this second look at nuclear power.

• "Do you know anyone who's using less electricity than they were 10 years ago?" he said.

Context: In an increasingly power-hungry world, nuclear energy is the carbon-free key for some.

• Unlike wind and solar power generation, nuclear power runs cleanly and almost continuously once built, said Mark Nutt, a nuclear engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a U.S. Department of Energy–funded national lab that conducts research to support energy technologies, grid systems and safety.
• "Typically, nuclear plants are brought up to full power and operate safely and securely at or near 100% capacity between refueling outages," Nutt told Axios. "That's different from variable renewable resources."

Still, Nutt cautioned against framing nuclear as the only way to meet Washington's clean energy goals, including legislation to go carbon-free by 2045.

• "I wouldn't say it's impossible," he said, "but it comes down to choices about reliability and affordability compared to other power generation sources."

State of play: Three developments converged over the past few years to bring the nuclear energy option back to the forefront for power providers, said Gregory Cullen, senior vice president of Energy Northwest, a public power consortium governed by 29 Washington utilities.

First: The Clean Energy Transformation Act, (CETA) was signed into law in 2019 and requires utilities to eliminate carbon-emitting electricity by 2045.

• "Suddenly, fossil fuels were off the table for the new generation," Cullen said. "We had to look at how to decarbonize and keep the system reliable and affordable."

Second: Energy Northwest's utility members asked for studies examining how the Northwest could meet a 100% clean standard.

• The study concluded that the lowest-cost fully clean system included a "clean firm" resource — such as nuclear — that can run around the clock.

Third: Congress launched the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program in 2020, offering billions of dollars in support for next-generation nuclear reactors.

• Energy Northwest has partnered with reactor developer X-energy to meet that effort.

Catch up quick: In addition to exploring next-generation reactors, Energy Northwest already operates the Columbia Generating Station north of Richland— the Northwest's only commercial nuclear power plant.

• To meet increased energy appetites, it is proposing to build up to 12 small modular reactors on a site next to Columbia.
• Known as the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, the first four modules would generate about 320 megawatts combined; Columbia produces about 1,200 megawatts — enough to supply power for roughly one million people a year, Cullen said.

These new reactors are not the massive megawatt plants built in the 1970s.

• They are small modular reactors, or SMRs — units that can be factory-built and assembled on site.

Between the lines: Amazon has so far invested billions in carbon-free energy, including $500 million with X-energy to fund early development work at the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility project.

• Amazon has also agreed to purchase power from the first four units, thereby reducing financial risk for utilities and ratepayers, per Cullen.

When it comes to nuclear risk, the X-energy design also differs from traditional reactors, Cullen said.

• Rather than using water to cool fuel rods, they use helium and a fuel form that's encased in multiple layers of ceramic and graphite, designed to withstand higher temperatures and reduce risk, Cullen explained.
• Cullen argues that smaller size and updated designs change the risk profile in a number of ways.
• "With modular units, you start small, then build, learn, and scale."