{
  "id": 15652132,
  "title": "Amazon makes vague commitment to unproven nuclear tech to power Indiana datacenters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/amazon-makes-vague-commitment-to-unproven-nuclear-tech-to-power",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-19T20:22:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register",
    "slug": "the-register",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2026/10/19/amazon-makes-vague-commitment-to-unproven-nuclear-tech-to-power-indiana-datacenters/5303974"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amazon has pledged funds to support the creation of a novel nuclear facility in Indiana that could supply nearly 1 gigawatt of power to its datacenters. However, the progress of this project remains uncertain due to the nascent stage of the technology involved. On Monday, Amazon disclosed that it would be contributing an undisclosed sum to the endeavor, as part of a broadened partnership with X-energy, a firm specializing in developing small modular reactors (SMRs) utilizing Tri-Structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel pellets and helium-cooled designs. Amazon only confirmed that it \"invests billions in nuclear energy projects\" without providing specifics on this particular initiative. X-energy plans to utilize 12 SMRs, known as the Xe-100 model, at a former coal plant in Sullivan County, Indiana to generate 960 megawatts of grid-connected electricity. Amazon has agreed to be the first buyer of the power produced by the facility once it is operational. The anticipated completion date for the facility is unclear, with an X-energy representative citing \"as early as the mid-2030s\" as a possible window, albeit acknowledging that the timeline could shift as the project advances. The developer's current state and the broader landscape of next-generation nuclear power suggest this timeline is plausible, considering the US's limited experience with commercial-scale SMRs. While several countries have operational SMRs, the US has yet to build a single functional one. Furthermore, the permitting process for SMRs in the US is complex. Reactors can either receive a standard design approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or be approved for a site-specific project. Despite X-energy being close to securing a Texas construction permit for a Dow Chemical plant, this development is unlikely to significantly impact the Indiana project's timeline.",
  "summary": "Partner X-energy has not built a single working reactor yet",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "Amazon is funding a new nuclear plant in Indiana",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/amazon-is-funding-a-new-nuclear-plant-in-indiana",
        "published": "2026-10-19T15:44:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "Amazon to fund 12 small nuclear reactors at former Indiana coal plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/amazon-to-fund-12-small-nuclear-reactors-at-former-indiana-coal-plant",
        "published": "2026-10-19T16:55:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Register Science",
        "title": "Amazon makes vague commitment to unproven nuclear tech to power Indiana datacenters",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/amazon-makes-vague-commitment-to-unproven-nuclear-tech-to-power-15656854",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:22:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}