Amazon funds twelve SMRs on Indiana’s former coal plant, aiming for 1 GW of clean electricity

Amazon has teamed up with nuclear‑technology company X‑Energy to fund the build‑out of twelve small modular reactors (SMRs) at a former coal‑fired plant in Indiana. Expected to produce roughly one gigawatt of power, the venture represents the retailer’s newest effort to broaden its low‑carbon energy mix.

The SMRs are set to supplant the old coal facilities that once supplied electricity to the area, illustrating a growing pattern of converting legacy fossil‑fuel sites to cleaner generation. Placing the reactors on the current plant’s site lets developers use the pre‑existing grid hookups and transmission corridors, cutting the requirement for fresh land purchases and easing permitting.

The funding fits Amazon’s declared climate goals, notably its promise to reach net‑zero emissions throughout its operations by 2040. Although it has already locked in wind and solar renewable‑energy deals, adding nuclear provides a dispatchable, carbon‑free source that can back up variable renewables. X‑Energy, a developer of high‑temperature gas‑cooled SMRs, notes that its units are manufactured off‑site and installed on‑site, which can reduce build time versus conventional large nuclear stations.

Gaining regulatory clearance for SMRs continues to be a major obstacle, yet recent U.S. policy changes indicate increasing backing for advanced nuclear solutions. The Department of Energy has allocated money for SMR research, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revising its licensing rules to fit smaller, modular reactors. Should the Indiana effort succeed, it could become a model for converting other former coal locations across the country.

Stakeholders expect the almost 1 GW of clean electricity from the twelve reactors to flow straight into the local grid, enhancing reliability and aiding the state’s renewable‑energy goals. Analysts observe that the partnership highlights a practical decarbonization strategy—combining corporate capital, novel technology, and the repurposing of existing energy assets. Upcoming actions include comprehensive engineering design, obtaining remaining permits, and starting construction, with the first operating milestones projected for the second half of the decade.