In the race to find a reliable and carbon-free energy source, the next generation of nuclear reactors appears to be a frontrunner.
The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Energy, has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to supporting development and resources for small modular reactors, or SMRs.
Energy Northwest has partnered with Amazon and X-energy to deploy SMRs near the Columbia Generating Station. The Richland facility of France-based Framatome has plans to double the size of its current nuclear fuel production facility to accommodate production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel for such reactors.
Proponents of the nuclear technology promote not only its smaller footprint, improved safety, potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide ample power, but also its ability to provide a living for many people.
But for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), their concerns for the next generation of their people currently outweigh any benefits the emerging nuclear technology offers.
Photo via NRC, Energy Northwest