David Voigts.

The projected rapid increase in electrical energy needs, particularly for massive new data centers, could derail our efforts to combat climate change unless ways are found to greatly increase the production of clean energy. Nuclear energy could help fill that need with the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).

SMRs are a scaled down version of larger plants with the advantage of being quicker and less expensive to build and safer to operate since the design of the modules would be alike. Once a design is finalized, it could be used to build many modular reactors. In addition, the number of SMRs to be built could be matched to the needs of the site.

The importance of this new vision for nuclear energy was underscored by the “Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy” that was signed recently by President Trump and the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Under this agreement, when a reactor design receives regulatory approval in one country, that work can be used to support the design in the other country. This should speed the construction of new nuclear power stations in both countries. Although questions remain, small modular reactors could reduce the gap of needed clean energy.

David Voigts is a retired ecologist and the current Conservation Chair for the Prairie Rapids Audubon Society. He is a Tama County native, graduating from Dinsdale High School, and lives in rural Jesup on his wife’s family farm.