“Economic development in the future will gravitate toward regions offering affordable and dependable electricity,” stated De’Keither Stamps, a commissioner at the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC). With billions of dollars in new economic ventures flowing into the state—including several major data centers—there is a growing need for robust and cost-effective power sources capable of supporting high-demand infrastructure. n nIn 2023, natural gas fueled 76 percent of Mississippi’s electricity generation, serving as the primary energy source for nine out of the state’s ten largest power plants, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA). However, to meet rising energy demands driven by technological advancements, state leaders are increasingly considering nuclear energy as a viable long-term solution. n nGovernor Tate Reeves (R) has expressed support for nuclear power during recent announcements about large-scale developments, emphasizing that any energy source must be safe, reliable, and economically feasible. In May, at the Power Play Summit, Reeves declared, “the future is going to be nuclear,” signaling strong state-level backing for expanding nuclear capacity. n nLast year, the Mississippi PSC passed a resolution recognizing nuclear power as a clean, baseload energy source essential for building a secure, resilient, and diversified electrical grid. Commissioner Chris Brown (R), who chairs the commission, highlighted three key advantages of nuclear: resilience, dependability, and cost efficiency. The PSC regulates various public utilities, including electricity generation across the state. n nCurrently, Mississippi operates one nuclear facility—Entergy’s Grand Gulf Nuclear Station near Port Gibson. The 1,400-megawatt plant is the largest single-reactor nuclear station in the U.S. by net summer capacity and supplied approximately 16 percent of the state’s electricity in 2023. State officials have indicated openness to expanding nuclear infrastructure beyond this existing site. n nBrown emphasized that embracing additional nuclear generation sends a clear message: “Mississippi is open for business.” In November, he told the Senate Energy Committee, “We believe nuclear is our future.” n nAt a PSC-hosted Nuclear Summit last fall, Commissioner Stamps reiterated the link between nuclear energy and economic advancement. “One of the most stable and economical power options available today is nuclear,” he said. With three data centers—AWS, AVAIO, and Compass—currently under construction, Brown noted that reliable energy access makes Mississippi more appealing to tech-driven industries. n n“Establishing a secure power connection is typically the biggest challenge for a data center,” an AVAIO spokesperson explained. The surge in artificial intelligence applications has dramatically increased demand for computing resources, as Robert Rapier detailed in a Forbes article earlier this year. n n“These advanced AI models consume vast amounts of electricity not only during training but continuously during operation,” Rapier wrote. “This goes beyond adding a few servers—AI data centers operate like small cities in terms of energy use. Some projections suggest U.S. data centers could surpass the total electricity consumption of countries like Japan or Turkey by 2030.” n nUtilities from Texas to Virginia are struggling to adapt to this growing strain on the power grid, Rapier observed. “The challenges are both technical and political. Meeting these demands often requires major transmission upgrades—projects that can take five to ten years to approve and build. Meanwhile, delays frustrate developers and may push AI companies toward independent energy providers or alternative locations,” he added. “Traditional forecasting tools based on historical trends are no longer adequate in this rapidly evolving landscape.” n nThere is ongoing discussion about constructing another nuclear plant in Mississippi, particularly at Yellow Creek in Tishomingo County. Over the past five years, Flibe Energy, based in Huntsville, Alabama, has invested more than $250 million in site development. However, it remains uncertain whether the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will grant approval. n nFlibe CEO Kirk Sorensen attended the Power Play Summit and praised Mississippi’s proactive stance. “This aligns with our vision for the state’s energy future, where our operations at Yellow Creek could significantly enhance regional energy security,” Sorensen said. n nConstruction on a nuclear facility at Yellow Creek began in 1978 under the Tennessee Valley Authority but was abandoned in 1984 due to rising costs and reduced electricity demand, according to the New York Times. n nSorensen also warned Governor Reeves that increasing uranium prices threaten the economic viability of conventional nuclear reactors. In contrast, Flibe’s thorium-based Lithium Fluoride Thorium Reactor technology offers a more affordable and sustainable alternative with lower fuel and construction costs. n n“Flibe Energy remains committed to collaborating with Mississippi stakeholders to advance thorium-based energy as a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally sound solution for the region,” Sorensen stated. n nPresident Donald Trump (R) recently issued an executive order calling for the construction of ten nuclear facilities by 2030, including accelerated licensing, reactor development for the Department of Energy and Defense, and support for nuclear fuel infrastructure. While Mississippi officials are uncertain whether the state will benefit directly from these directives, they remain hopeful. n n“Mississippi can make it happen,” said Commissioner Brown, noting that no new reactor has been built in the U.S. in over four decades. He also suggested that colleges and universities in the state should begin offering programs in nuclear facility management, as many current workers are nearing retirement and younger professionals are not entering the field in sufficient numbers. n— news from Magnolia Tribune
— News Original —
Mississippi officials eye nuclear energy to power state’s economic development future
“Economic development in the future is going to go to places where you have affordable and reliable power,” PSC Commissioner De’Keither Stamps said. n nWith billions of dollars in economic development projects coming to Mississippi, including multiple data centers, reliable and affordable energy is needed to power these new facilities as they require substantial amounts of electricity. n nAccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA), natural gas accounted for 76 percent of Mississippi’s electricity net generation in 2023 and was the primary fuel used at nine of the state’s ten largest power plants. n nHowever, to meet the demands of the future, one energy source state officials are exploring is nuclear power. n nGovernor Tate Reeves (R) has shown an openness to support nuclear power during his announcements of these large-scale projects, saying he supports all energy sources if they are safe, reliable, and affordable. n nIn May, Reeves went further, noting during his Power Play Summit that “the future is going to be nuclear,” a sign of state-level support for nuclear power development in some capacity. n nLast year, the Mississippi Public Service Commission also threw its support behind nuclear power. The three-member commission passed a resolution stating the PCS recognizes nuclear power as “a clean baseload energy necessary to achieve a reliable, secure, and diversified electric grid.” n nChris Brown (R), the Northern District PSC Commissioner and the group’s chairman, said three major benefits of nuclear power are resiliency, reliability, and affordability. The PSC oversees a wide range of public utility regulation, including power generation. n nState officials have said Mississippi is open to expanding its current nuclear power generation, which currently sits at one facility, Entergy’s Grand Gulf Nuclear Station near Port Gibson. n nThe USEIA reports that the 1,400-megawatt Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station is the largest single-reactor nuclear power plant by net summer generating capacity in the nation. The plant generated about 16 percent of the state’s electricity in 2023. n nCommissioner Brown believes being open to more nuclear power generation shows the world “Mississippi is open for business.” In November, Brown went further, telling the Senate Energy Committee, “We think nuclear is our future.” n nLast fall, at an PSC-sponsored Nuclear Summit, Central District Commissioner De’Keither Stamps (D) said nuclear energy is linked to Mississippi’s economic development. n n“Economic development in the future is going to go to places where you have affordable and reliable power,” Stamps said. “And one of the most affordable and reliable power sources is nuclear.” n nWith Mississippi already having three data centers under construction, AWS, AVAIO and Compass, Brown said nuclear power will make the Magnolia State more attractive to similar industries. n n“Securing the power connection is typically the biggest hurdle for a data center,” an AVAIO spokesperson said. n nData centers and the rise of AI-powered tools have created unprecedented demand for computing power, wrote Robert Rapier in Forbes earlier this year. n n“These complex models require massive amounts of electricity not just during training, but continuously during deployment (or inference) as well,” Rapier wrote. “This isn’t just about a few extra servers. AI data centers are power-hungry operations, often requiring the energy equivalent of a small city. Some estimates suggest that U.S. data centers could consume more electricity by 2030 than entire countries such as Japan or Turkey.” n nRapier notes that electric utilities from Texas to Virginia are scrambling to adapt to this new energy strain on the grid. n n“The challenges are both technical and political. Meeting these new demands often requires massive upgrades to transmission infrastructure—projects that can take five to ten years to permit and build. Meanwhile, delays frustrate developers and risk driving AI firms to seek power from independent suppliers or alternative locations,” Rapier wrote. “Utility companies are being forced to rethink everything: where and how they build generation, how they plan grid expansions, and how to regulate and forecast demand. The traditional demand modeling tools that rely on historical trends are no longer sufficient in this brave new world.” n nThere has been speculation about another nuclear facility in Mississippi to help with energy generation in this new tech environment, particularly in Tishomingo County’s Yellow Creek. For half a decade, Huntsville, Alabama-based Flibe Energy has spent more than $250 million on site improvements. Yet, it remains unclear when and if the site would receive approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. n nFlibe’s Chief Executive Officer Kirk Sorensen was in attendance at the state’s Power Play Summit. Mississippi’s willingness to further explore nuclear power and its proactive attitude are positive signs for the state, the CEO said. n n“This aligns perfectly with our vision for Mississippi’s energy landscape, where our Yellow Creek operations could play a critical role in regional energy security,” Sorenson said. n nIn 1978, the Tennessee Valley Authority started construction on the Yellow Creek nuclear power plant but abandoned its work in 1983. The TVA abandoned the project in 1984 due to cost and lower electrical demands, according to the New York Times. n nSorenson emphasized to Governor Reeves how rising uranium costs – a vital material in nuclear reactors – threaten conventional nuclear economics, while Flibe’s thorium-based Lithium Fluoride Thorium Reactor technology offers a promising alternative with significantly lower fuel and construction expenses. n n“Flibe Energy remains committed to working alongside Mississippi stakeholders to advance thorium energy as a safe, affordable, and sustainable power solution for the region,” Sorenson said. n nPresident Donald Trump (R) called for 10 nuclear power facilities to be built by 2030 in a recent executive order, with accelerated licensing timelines, construction of reactors for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense use, and support for nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure. n nMississippi officials are not sure if the state will see a nuclear power plant approved by way of the executive orders, but they are hopeful. n n“Mississippi can make it happen,” said Commissioner Brown, adding that a nuclear reactor has not been built in four decades. n nIf Mississippi does gain more nuclear facilities, the commissioner said he would like to see institutions of higher learning offer courses in nuclear facility management. Currently, many nuclear reactor employees are at or near retirement age, and the younger generation is not gravitating towards the industry.