Three Mile Island’s Unit One Reactor Could Restart by 2027, Backed by Microsoft and AI Integration
In a historic move, Constellation Energy is accelerating efforts to restart Unit One of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant—now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center—by 2027, a full year ahead of schedule. This comes nearly five decades after the infamous 1979 nuclear accident at the site, though Unit One was not involved in that incident.
The restart is being driven by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, which plans to use the plant’s clean energy to power its AI operations and data centers. The facility is already over 64% staffed, with nearly 400 full-time employees onboard and more hires on the way.
Key upgrades and preparations include:
- Steam generator replacements (done in 2009) that passed recent inspections.
- Training of new reactor operators, a process that takes 18 months.
- AI integration to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
- Planned license extension from 2034 to 2054 to match Microsoft’s agreement.
The restart is expected to generate 3,400 jobs and over $3 billion in tax revenue, while also preserving a legacy for families who have worked at the plant for generations.
If successful, this would mark the first-ever restart of a decommissioned nuclear plant in U.S. history, with other facilities like Michigan’s Palisades plant also aiming to follow suit.
Read the full article here: Inside the efforts to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant
