Nuclear energy's comeback arc

Three Mile Island is being reopened to power a Microsoft data center. We've entered the nuclear renaissance timeline.

The physics have always been in nuclear's favor. Zero-carbon, baseload power with the highest energy density of any source. The problems have always been political and economic.

SMRs — small modular reactors — are the game changer. Lower capital cost, factory-built, safer by design. NuScale's delay was a setback but the technology pathway is sound.

The AI energy demand story is accelerating all of this. Data centers need 24/7 reliable power. Solar and wind alone can't do that without massive storage. Nuclear fills the gap perfectly.

The waste issue is solvable. Finland's Onkalo repository is proof. The real barrier is permitting timelines. Building a nuclear plant takes 10-15 years in the West. That's a policy problem, not a physics problem.

Countries that maintained nuclear expertise — France, South Korea — can build faster and cheaper. The US and UK let their supply chains atrophy and are paying the price. The lesson: don't abandon industrial capabilities you might need later.