Can Nuclear Power the Cloud? Baseload Energy Options for Data Centers

In this episode of Bracewell’s Data Center Counsel podcast, Scott Segal and Andrew Shaw explore whether nuclear energy can meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of AI-driven data centers. As hyperscale facilities transform electricity demand into a system-level challenge, the discussion examines why nuclear — both large light water reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) — is uniquely positioned to provide firm, carbon-free baseload power.

The conversation covers a range of topics, including:

• the operational alignment between
• nuclear generation and high-load data centers emerging partnerships between tech companies and nuclear operators
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing reforms
• fuel supply constraints
• safety considerations