US Army to spend $2 billion nuclear microreactors for bases
The US Army has announced a plan to install what it calls nuclear microreactors at five of its bases across the country. The move would ensure the facilities' energy independence from the rest of the electric grid.
The U.S. Army announced on Wednesday that it will allocate $2.2 billion in contracts to five companies for the construction and operation of small nuclear reactors on military bases. The initiative aims to deploy the first reactor by the end of September 2028. Dubbed microreactors, each plant is expected to generate up to 20 megawatts of power and offer the advantage of easy transport.
Radiant's Chief Commercial Officer, Mike Starrett, informed Reuters that the Janus project will enable the company to scale its business to meet commercial needs, such as data centers, around 2030. BWXT's President and CEO, Rex Geveden, stated that the Janus program provides the U.S. the most credible and reliable path to deployable nuclear power.
Critics argue that microreactors will be costlier than traditional reactors, while safety advocates highlight the inherent risks, including accidents or targeted attacks. The Army's program circumvents standard regulations, instead having the Army oversee the reactors. Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, emphasized that microreactors will adhere to all applicable safety and environmental regulations but will be overseen by the Army rather than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The Army's goal is to ensure a safe, reliable baseload power supply directly to its installations, enhancing energy resilience and reducing dependence on external grids. The Army has selected five companies to work on the project: Radiant, BWXT, and three other unnamed firms. Critics question the cost-effectiveness of microreactors, while safety advocates caution about the associated risks.
The Army assures that the reactors will have fail-safe shutdown mechanisms and that no long-term radioactive waste storage will occur on military installations. The program aligns with recent executive orders from President Donald Trump, who sought to accelerate the development of nuclear power, aiming to quadruple U.S. nuclear energy production.
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