BISMARCK — As more major power users come online,
namely artificial intelligence data centers,
North Dakota is looking at advanced forms of nuclear energy to meet an exponential rise in energy demand.
Advanced nuclear energy is an umbrella term used to describe new forms of nuclear power technology that are safer, cheaper, smaller and more efficient than traditional facilities.
To learn more about how the industry is evolving, a committee of state lawmakers, utility regulators, agency leaders and electricity producers met at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and heard from experts about the ways North Dakota could benefit from nuclear energy development, as well as the accompanying challenges.
Much of the Wednesday discussion involved the state possibly building Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs, nuclear power facilities that can be built in a factory, connected to other reactors and produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity. The average American household uses around 10 megawatts yearly.
The committee also talked about a recent, nationwide trend of states boosting their support for advancing nuclear technology because of its capacity to meet a wide range of energy goals, from sustainability to increased reliability and domestic production.
All nuclear facilities operate constantly, functioning as a consistent source of power, according to Kati Austgen, a public engagement specialist for the Nuclear Energy Institute. The Nuclear Energy Institute is a group focused on promoting the growth of the power source.
Finding ways to store nuclear waste, a highly radioactive byproduct of nuclear energy production, continues to be a major obstacle in getting projects started, she said, noting most waste is stored on-site.
The United States has 94 reactors and 53 plant sites, contributing to nearly half of all clean electricity generation and 20% of overall generation, according to the
Rigorous regulation standards for nuclear facilities pose a challenge, experts told lawmakers Wednesday, as applications can take years to be reviewed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Austgen said designing the facilities to be safer is one way to get ahead of the long regulatory process.
Nationally, most advanced facility designers are in the “pre-application” phase of obtaining the approval to build, according to Austgen. A handful of projects are under official review, and a few are in the construction phase or operational.
As such, some lawmakers were hesitant Wednesday about the status of the new technology and its ability to meet the growing power demand.
is barreling down on us,” said Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg. “So are we, from the policy perspective, way behind the train here, trying to catch up?”
Austgen said nuclear facilities might still be able to meet the massive demand coming into the state if they can be “phased in” to the grid, as major power consumers are often built out incrementally.
She and other experts touted the nuclear energy industry and how it can improve life for people in areas where nuclear energy infrastructure is built, listing high-paying, long-term jobs; relatively low land use; and few emissions compared to other energy sources as some of the major benefits.
House Bill 1025, which was
created the committee and directed it to select a consultant to help carry out a study on advanced nuclear energy and its place in the state’s energy ecosystem.
The committee on Wednesday heard proposals from nine entities interested in being consultants for the legislative study. Their cost estimates ranged between $100,000 and $300,000.
The final contract award decision has not been made, but the committee recommended to Legislative Management that the state enter an agreement with Nucleon, an Alberta-based nuclear development company that focuses on Small Modular Reactor technology. Nucleon’s proposal included a $275,000 price tag.
The study will be completed within the next year.