Army spending $2B to build nuclear microreactors at 5 bases

The United States Army announced on Wednesday that it will allocate $2.2 billion in contracts to five firms for constructing and operating small nuclear reactors on military bases. The initiative aims to deploy the first such reactor by the end of September 2028. These microreactors are touted for their ease of transport and potential to generate up to 20 megawatts of power each.

Army spokesperson Jeff Waksman emphasized that the reactors will comply with all relevant environmental and safety regulations, but will be overseen by the Army instead of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which governs commercial reactors. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stated that the awards will expedite the military's capability to deliver dependable, continuous power directly to installations.

The Army chose Radiant, BWXT, and other companies to implement the project, dubbed Janus, which is expected to aid the company's growth and eventually serve commercial clients like data centers around 2030. Critics argue that microreactors may be more expensive than traditional reactors, while safety advocates highlight the inherent risks associated with nuclear technology, such as accidents or targeted attacks.

The Army's Waksman acknowledged that the microreactors would automatically shut down in case of failure and that the Army wouldn't install them without ensuring their safety. The Army is also collaborating with the Energy Department to manage radioactive waste, which won't be stored on the installations.