Amazon backs US nuclear project to power data centers, AI

Amazon will support the development of a small modular reactor (SMR) facility in Washington state to supply carbon-free energy for its data centers and AI services.

The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, to be built near Richland with Energy Northwest and SMR developer X-energy, will use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design.

The initial four-unit phase will have a capacity of 320 MW and could expand to 12 units totaling 960 MW.

Construction is set to begin by the end of the decade, with operations expected in the 2030s.

Amazon, an investor in X-energy through its Climate Pledge Fund, said the project is part of its push to add over 5 GW of new nuclear capacity to the US grid by 2039.

The initiative is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent roles.

A new training center at Columbia Basin College will also prepare students for jobs using an X-energy control room simulator.

🔗 Source: Amazon

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

X-energy’s Xe-100 lacks U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) operating license approval, creating a multi-year gap before reactors planned to serve Amazon can generate power

Construction is planned late this decade, with operations in the 2030s, yet the schedule skips federal licensing steps needed before power can flow 1.
The NRC docketed Long Mott Energy, LLC’s construction permit in May 2025 1. The agency targets a final safety evaluation in November 2026 and an environmental assessment in June 2026 1. Long Mott Energy is a project entity advancing an X‑energy deployment in Texas 1.
The Washington state facility needs its own NRC construction permit and operating license applications, which could extend timelines beyond current expectations 1.
Even with the NRC’s expedited 18‑month construction permit review for the Texas project, Dow (a materials and chemicals company involved in that project) calls approval before 2028 unlikely 2. The company will not make a final investment decision until it reviews the operating license application, which is the second step in the two‑stage licensing process 2.

Tech companies and data center developers can pursue hourly carbon-free energy matching contracts in the Pacific Northwest ahead of small modular reactor (SMR) deployment

Amazon’s nuclear plan in Washington, paired with the state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) that requires 100% clean electricity, is driving demand for 24/7 carbon‑free energy procurement before SMRs operate 3.
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is a federal power marketer that runs much of the region’s hydropower and serves the Pacific Northwest grid 4.
Vendors can target hyperscalers (large cloud providers) and AI infrastructure operators in Washington 5. These buyers want hourly matching, carbon‑free energy certificates, and transparent grid data to show continuous clean power use 5.
The 24/7 Carbon‑Free Energy (CFE) Compact is a multi‑stakeholder framework that matches every kilowatt‑hour with carbon‑free sources each hour 5. Consultants and software vendors can use it to help companies start hourly matching before SMRs come online 5.