First Look at the Amazon’s Nuclear Facility Planned For Washington State
Summary
Amazon is backing the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, a next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) project in Richland, Washington, developed with X-energy and Energy Northwest. The plan calls for an initial cluster of four SMRs producing up to 320 megawatts, with an eventual buildout to 12 reactors totalling nearly one gigawatt. Construction could begin within the next five years and the plant might come online in the 2030s, subject to funding, permitting and public support.
Amazon has committed hundreds of millions towards the project as part of a broader target to deploy 5 gigawatts of nuclear power in the U.S. by 2039. The company would have rights to half the initial output (and could take all if local utilities cannot absorb the cost). Amazon positions the investment as a way to scale SMRs, reduce cost and help meet its growing energy needs driven by AI and data centres.
Key Points
- Amazon is investing hundreds of millions in the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, partnering with X-energy and Energy Northwest.
- Initial phase: four small modular reactors (SMRs) producing up to 320 MW; long-term vision: 12 reactors (~1 GW).
- Target timeline: construction within ~5 years if approvals and funding align; commercial operation aimed for the 2030s.
- Amazon aims to deploy 5 GW of nuclear power in the U.S. by 2039 and would claim half of the initial plant’s output.
- Company argues its ability to scale technology and provide catalytic capital can help reduce costs and accelerate adoption of SMRs.
- Key hurdles: permitting, public acceptance, fuel supply (HALEU concerns for some SMR designs), waste disposal and regulatory scrutiny.
- If fully built out, the facility could produce enough power for roughly one million homes and lower per-unit costs for later reactors.
Context and Relevance
This move sits at the intersection of corporate decarbonisation, energy security and the escalating electricity demands of large cloud and AI operations. Amazon’s investment is notable because corporate capital is being used to shoulder early-stage risk for a technology — SMRs — that has struggled to scale in the U.S. for decades. Success could catalyse new private–public models for nuclear deployment, reshape regional power markets and influence the pace of low-carbon energy rollout.
However, the project revives longstanding concerns: long-term waste management, seismic and siting questions in Washington State’s nuclear history, supply chain issues for advanced fuels, and whether utilities or ratepayers will accept costs tied to early reactors. Regulators, local communities and the availability of HALEU (for certain SMR designs) are practical constraints that will determine whether the plan proceeds on schedule.
Author’s take (Punchy)
Amazon throwing serious money at SMRs is a big deal. If it works, expect a renewed U.S. push on nuclear innovation — and cheaper modular reactors down the line. If it fails, critics will point to familiar headaches: waste, permits and cost overruns. Either way, this is worth watching closely.
Why should I read this?
Short version: Amazon’s not just buying credits any more — it’s betting big on building the power it needs. If you care about how data centres, AI and corporate climate pledges get powered (and paid for), this story shows where the action might be headed — plus the headaches that come with nuclear.