- Amazon partners with X-energy and Energy Northwest to deploy twelve modular reactors
- Cascade Advanced Energy Facility to anchor 1-gigawatt nuclear project
- Each Xe-100 reactor will generate 80 megawatts of scalable clean energy
Amazon has revealed plans to build 12 small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in a partnership with X-energy and Energy Northwest, aiming to reach a combined output of around 1 GW within the next decade.
The Cascade Advanced Energy facility, planned for development near Richland, Washington, will form the backbone of this new initiative.
Amazon says the project is part of a long-term strategy to bring more than 5 GW of new nuclear power to the U.S. grid by 2039.
Driving the rise of AI and cloud services
If Amazon’s plan succeeds, it will be one of the largest corporate-backed clean energy projects to date, with the new reactors expected to provide carbon-free electricity to power its expanding digital ecosystem, including its AI tools, large-scale data centers and cloud storage systems.
As AI drives increasing demand for computing, renewable energies like solar and wind often lack the stability required for continuous operation. Nuclear power, however, offers 24-hour reliability.
The SMR project is therefore seen as a way to ensure continuous power supply to the infrastructure that supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other digital operations.
“This project is not just about new technologies, it is about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that will support our growing digital world,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer.
The Cascade project will use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design, a next-generation modular system designed for scalability and security.
Each unit will produce approximately 80 MW of energy, with modular construction allowing faster deployment than traditional nuclear power plants.
Local workforce preparation is already underway through Columbia Basin College’s Energy Learning Center, funded by the Department of Energy, which will host a high-fidelity simulator replicating the Xe-100 control room with the goal of training operators, engineers and technicians for well-paying roles once the Cascade reactors enter service.
Amazon says the project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent technical positions.
The project will also support Washington State’s goal of diversifying its clean energy portfolio.
However, critics point out that nuclear projects face long approval times and high upfront costs.
Construction of the first reactors should begin towards the end of this decade, with operations planned for the early 2030s.
Amazon also partnered with Talen Energy to develop a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
SMRs are smaller and potentially safer, but it remains to be seen whether they will deliver on their promise of clean, scalable and cost-effective energy.
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