Army to spend $2B to build nuclear microreactors at 5 bases as US seeks to ramp up nuclear power

The US Army announced plans to build nuclear microreactors at five military bases across the nation, aiming to provide a reliable, independent energy source not reliant on the commercial electric grid. The $2.2 billion investment, spread over five years, will be split among five companies, each awarded up to $440 million to own, construct and operate the reactors if they meet certain performance milestones.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll emphasized that these microreactors will bolster the military's capability to provide "safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations" without depending on potentially vulnerable external power sources. The Army is utilizing its substantial resources to subsidize nuclear energy development, a move that has drawn criticism from some nuclear experts who argue that the reactors are too expensive and risky compared to other energy sources.

Despite the controversy, the Army is working to ensure the reactors meet stringent safety standards and will be licensed by the Army, rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which licenses commercial reactors. The reactors are expected to run for years without refueling and offer a resilient power source for military installations, particularly in case of grid failures.

While the reactors will complement, not replace, the existing grid connections, they represent a significant step in the transition towards next-generation nuclear energy.