Kansas – The Place for Nuclear Buzz
We are very dependent on our electrical grid in our daily lives. Electricity is, in many cases, taken for granted. We flip the switch and expect the light to come on. What happens to our country if the electrical grid collapses or is attacked? How do we go about our daily activities without lights, stop lights, gas pumps, no airports in service, and on and on?
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) may be one solution, or at least worth testing.
For years, the military has engaged in testing nuclear reactors for remote power generation. In 1957, the U.S. Army developed a multi‑service training reactor. It was the first reactor on the electrical grid. In the 1960s, they developed a small component reactor that was transportable by truck, rail, or barge.
This testing continued into the 1970s. Today, SMRs are a reality and are being considered for multiple applications. Those applications include remote and forward operating bases with a lack of infrastructure.
The buzz today: more nuclear in Kansas. Deep Fission is the U.S.-based startup that has selected Parsons, Kansas, as a location to test the 15 MWe pressurized water SMR installed one mile underground.
More buzz: The Kansas Board of Regents is investing $15 million in energy research at KU, K‑State, and Wichita State Universities. They will focus on various energy resources for our future.
Another interesting energy project is the installation of one or more SMRs at large U.S. airports. This would make them independent from the electrical grid and more survivable from an attack on the grid.
Anyway, that’s a lot to think about, so I have included some links below that will take you to a number of interesting articles about the future of our electricity in Kansas and beyond.
MSU-DASSO-2025-Vol_1-No_3-Scheckleman.pdf
Small-scale nuclear reactors for remote military operations: opportunities and challenges
U.S. Pushes Boundaries with SMRs for Airports and Defense
Kansas has been a hot spot for nuclear news — ANS / Nuclear Newswire
