Amazon backs Indiana nuclear project to power data centers
Amazon has agreed with X-energy and American Electric Power to fund a new nuclear facility in Indiana. The proposed plant would replace the retired coal-fired Breed Generating Station in Fairbanks, Sullivan County, and provide up to 960 megawatts of emissions-free electricity for the regional grid and Amazon's data centers. The project targets 12 Xe-100 small modular reactors, though no construction or operation timeline has been announced, and Amazon says it could create 1,000 construction jobs and 100 permanent roles.
Amazon’s deal with X-energy and American Electric Power would fund a nuclear facility at the site of Indiana’s retired Breed coal plant in Fairbanks, Sullivan County. The plan calls for twelve Xe-100 small modular reactors and up to 960 megawatts of carbon-free power for the grid and Amazon data centers. The Xe-100 design remains under development and licensing, and can use air, water, or a hybrid cooling approach.
No construction or operation schedule was given. Amazon says the project could support 1,000 construction jobs and 100 permanent positions. It is the second Amazon-X-energy effort, following a planned Washington facility, with a broader aim of over 5 gigawatts of new U.S. nuclear capacity by 2039.
If built, the project could reshape local employment and energy supply in Sullivan County, offering construction and permanent roles while adding carbon-free capacity to a regional grid. Nearby residents may see economic benefits and land-use or infrastructure changes. Amazon’s data centers could gain long-term power, but the timeline and costs remain uncertain, so broader effects on ratepayers, water use, and decarbonization may not be clear for years.