Amazon partners with X-energy to build a small modular reactor in Washington, boosting its clean energy ambitions.
A new kind of power surge is coming, and it’s not digital. Amazon is plugging into advanced nuclear energy , taking its sustainability goals to the next level with plans for a new small modular reactor facility in Washington state.
Called the CascadeAdvanced Energy Facility, the project will help reduce Amazon’s carbon emissions, power its operations with clean energy, and supply carbon-free electricity to the grid.The facility will also support the growing demand for energy to run artificial intelligence and digital technologies.In partnership with Washington-based utility Energy Northwest and SMR developer X-energy, Amazon plans to build up to 12 SMRs near the Columbia Generating Station in Richland.The company’s first investment in nuclear technology marks what it calls “a new chapter” in powering its operations with carbon-free energy.Building a cleaner tomorrowSMRs are next-generation nuclear reactors that are smaller and safer than traditional plants. Their modular design allows faster construction, lower costs, and flexible deployment.“This project isn’t just about new technology; it’s about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that will support our growing digital world,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer. “I’m excited about the potential of SMRs and the positive impact they will have on both the environment and local communities.”Rendering of the advanced energy facility. Credit – AmazonAmazon has invested billions of dollars in carbon-free energy projects, including nuclear, through its Climate Pledge Fund. The Cascade facility will use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design, with an initial capacity of 320 megawatts and the potential to expand to 960 MW. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the decade, with operations targeted for the 2030s.“One year ago, we set out with Amazon to reimagine the way in which we advance new energy projects in the United States,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy.“The support of Amazon has enabled us to accelerate progress on our technology, grow our team, and position the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility at the forefront of energy innovation.”Powering communities, not just dataThe project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent positions in engineering and nuclear operations.To strengthen local talent, Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, is launching an Energy Learning Center with a simulator that replicates X-energy’s control room. “Investing in advanced training simulators prepares future operators and builds the foundation for a clean energy workforce that will power our region for decades to come,” said Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest.The project will help reduce Amazon’s carbon emissions. Credit – AmazonFor Amazon, Cascade is part of a broader effort to add more than 5 gigawatts of new nuclear energy to the U.S. grid by 2039, enough to power 3.8 million homes. It also aligns with the company’s record as the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy since 2020.With projects like Cascade, Amazon is proving its clean energy ambitions go beyond words, they’re being built, megawatt by megawatt.
Clean Energy Nuclear Energy Small Modular Reactor SMR Sustainability Washington State X-Energy
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