Proposed Indiana Nuclear Reactor Project Plans 960 MW
The 12-unit reactor site aims to meet a projected surge in local energy demand that could exceed 7,000 megawatts by 2030.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Data Centers
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Amazon, American Electric Power, and X-energy have announced a development agreement for 12 small modular reactors in Sullivan County, Indiana. This research-stage project aims to install 960 megawatts of nuclear capacity at the former Breed Generating Station site.
Why it matters
The project is designed to address a massive surge in local energy demand, which Indiana Michigan Power expects to spike from 2,800 megawatts to over 7,000 megawatts by 2030. It represents a strategic infrastructure push to power regional grids and energy-intensive data centers.
The plan centers on 12 Xe-100 reactor units, each rated at 80 megawatts, grouped into three blocks of four. These reactors utilize high-temperature helium as a coolant to facilitate heat transfer.
The players
Amazon
A global cloud provider and enterprise technology leader currently funding infrastructure for its expanding data center network.
American Electric Power
A major U.S. utility holding company that owns the Sullivan County site through its subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power.
X-energy
A nuclear engineering firm specializing in the development of advanced small modular reactor designs.
The details
The facility is proposed for the former Breed Generating Station site in Sullivan County. The Xe-100 design is a type of small modular reactor (SMR) — a smaller-scale nuclear fission system intended to be factory-built for easier deployment. These reactors rely on high-temperature helium — an inert gas that remains stable under extreme heat — to transport heat from the core to the steam generator.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: The companies officially announced the development agreement.
October 28, 2026: AEP leadership discussed the project's limitations with investors.
2030: The earliest expected date for a final investment decision.
2039: The target year for reaching 5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity nationwide.
The Tech Race
This project is part of a broader industry trend to secure dedicated carbon-free baseload power for large-scale data centers. It aligns with the partners' larger goal of reaching 5 gigawatts of U.S. nuclear capacity by 2039.
The project is expected to generate over 1,000 construction jobs and 100 permanent positions in Sullivan County. However, because a final investment decision is not slated until 2030, residents should not expect immediate operational changes to the regional grid.
The takeaway
The development signals a long-term commitment to nuclear-powered data infrastructure as utilities face massive projected demand spikes. Watch for the 2030 final investment decision, which will determine if the 12-reactor plan moves from the feasibility phase to construction.
Further reading
For more on how infrastructure scale influences cloud capacity, see our coverage of Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ECOticias.
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