Avalanche Energy just landed a DARPA contract to solve one of fusion power’s trickiest problems – turning damaging radiation into usable electricity. The Seattle-based fusion startup is developing a new class of materials that could transform how next-generation reactors capture energy, potentially accelerating the timeline to commercial fusion power. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure...
Antares Receives DOE Approval of Mark-0 Demonstration Reactor
A California-headquartered advanced nuclear energy company said it has received U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) approval of the Documented Safety Analysis for the company’s Mark-0 reactor. Antares, which is building compact nuclear microreactors, on April 7 said the DOE’s approval confirms the agency’s acceptance of the final design for the Mark-0, along with the safety...
Nuclear energy regulators roll back security drill requirements
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has voted to no longer lead security drills at power plants, instead allowing companies to lead their own drills in the coming years. Last week, the commission decided to transition to company-led drills rather than agency-led ones to assess the nuclear energy fleet’s preparation for attacks. Read more in The Hill here.
Wisconsin town revolts against a Trump-backed data center project
A small Wisconsin city upended by a data center backed by President Donald Trump is set to vote Tuesday on a referendum that could reshape grassroots resistance to AI projects nationwide. The vote in Port Washington, a lakeside town of roughly 12,000 people just north of Milwaukee, appears to be the first time any U.S....
In New England, Catching Climate Data Along With Fish
When Bob Hersey Jr., a Maine lobsterman, pulls up his traps, he gets more than tasty crustaceans. He’s collecting vital details about the changing ocean environment. Mr. Hersey, who also dives for sea urchins, is among nearly 150 fishermen who have installed temperature sensors on their traps or trawl nets from Maine to North Carolina...
The Genesis Mission: How AI Supercomputing Is About to Reshape American Science and Energy
After 22 years at IBM, where he rose to senior vice president and director of IBM Research, Dr. Dario Gil now leads one of the most ambitious science and technology initiatives in a generation. As director of the Genesis Mission, Gil is orchestrating a convergence of high-performance computing, AI, and quantum computing aimed at fundamentally...
These states don’t want data centers in their backyards
Data centers have become a boxy, hulking flashpoint heading into the midterms — and the backlash is spreading fast across red and blue states. Why it matters: With no federal action, states are fielding constituent anger over power grids, water supplies and strained local infrastructure. But investment keeps accelerating; Wall Street isn’t slowing down, and neither is...
EPA proposes studying microplastics for potential drinking water limits
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose to study microplastics and pharmaceuticals in what could be the first step toward drinking water limits for these substances. The Trump administration is touting the move as a win for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, a subset of voters that is skeptical of the chemical...
The Data Center Water Panic Has a Better Answer: Water Markets
Data centers are booming. As companies race to build the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence, communities across the country are sounding alarms about how much water these facilities consume. Some worry the massive complexes will strain water supplies that are already stretched thin. The debate has quickly turned toward regulatory fixes, such as disclosure mandates, environmental reviews,...
Texas Opens $350M Advanced Nuclear Grant Programs to Spur Reactor Buildout, Supply Chain
The State of Texas has opened applications for $350 million in advanced nuclear grants through the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund (TANDF), making the nation’s largest state‑level nuclear package competitive for the first time across two programs aimed at reactor construction and supply chain development. In an exclusive interview with POWER, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office...








