AI consumes too much electricity! The United States restarts the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant: Responding to the establishment of a data center in Iowa.

The surge in electricity consumption in AI data centers is driving the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Iowa, showing that the US energy map is shifting rapidly (Synopsis: Poke Huang Jenxun's heart: Why can AI only embrace nuclear energy? The four keys that 99% of people don't understand) (Background supplement: Huang Jenxun came to the stage before the third referendum to shout "nuclear energy is better", President Lyle's nuclear power plot came true? The huge demand for electricity, driven by the AI boom, is rewriting the U.S. energy market. As the technology industry seeks a stable and low-carbon power source, the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, which entered history in 2020, is now having the opportunity to restart, indicating that nuclear energy is returning to the mainstream. "Big appetite for electricity" drives nuclear comeback According to CNBC on September 1, the electricity consumption of large AI data centers is equivalent to that of a medium-sized city. To ensure that computing infrastructure is powered off and carbon emissions are reduced, technology companies are moving closer to nuclear power. In the past, Microsoft has reached an agreement with Constellation Energy to support the restart of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, creating a demonstration effect. Against this backdrop, restarting existing units is more cost-effective than building new nuclear plants, says John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy, "These are real unicorn opportunities." Duane Arnold: A key node from decommissioning to rebirth The Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Iowa was shut down that year due to damage to cooling towers due to cheap natural gas and bad weather; The core device remains intact, laying the groundwork for a reboot. NextEra Energy has received (FERC) re-grid clearance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and is pursuing a (PPA) of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the goal of restoring more than 600 megawatts of power generation by the end of 2028, enough to power about 400,000 homes. NextEra foresees the creation of "data center hotspots" around power plants, bringing new economic momentum to the region. Capital, supply chain and regulation The restart plan still faces high costs and supply chain bottlenecks. NextEra plans to invest an initial $100 million in 2025 to rebuild cooling towers and order critical equipment such as transformers. However, RTO Insider points out that transformer lead times can be up to three years, and a slight delay can slow down the schedule. In addition, all projects are subject to rigorous review by the U.S. Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission. At the policy level, the Trump administration's adjustment of the renewable energy tax credit has also caused some investors to reassess the returns of wind and solar energy, and guide capital to return to nuclear energy. Can the return of nuclear power fill the power gap in the age of AI? Duane Arnold's reboot symbolizes a rapid shift on the U.S. energy map. With its high capacity and low carbon emissions, nuclear energy is a potential key to supporting power stability in the AI era. For energy companies like NextEra, this is a new growth curve; For policymakers and supply chain firms, it is a stress test for reallocating resources. High capital expenditures, lengthy approvals and equipment supply challenges remind the market that the nuclear renaissance is not easy. As AI applications continue to expand, it remains to be verified whether the United States can find a balance between safety, environmental protection, and economic benefits. In the short term, the restart of nuclear power will bring timely replenishment to the grid; In the long run, its success or failure will shape the direction of energy investment in the coming decades, and will also affect the growth ceiling of the AI industry. Related reports Trump's support for "nuclear development of AI", what impact may it have on Bitcoin mining? Israel threatened to attack "Iranian nuclear energy facilities", Biden issued a serious warning: don't exceed the world's first nuclear energy mine" TeraWulf completed the deployment of 15,000 mining machines, each cost is only $0.02! 〈AI eats too much electricity! Duane Arnold: Responding to the establishment of data centers in Iowa, the United States restarts nuclear power plants, and this article was first published in BlockTempo's "Dynamic Trends - The Most Influential Blockchain News Media".