This U.S. Airport Needs to Go Nuclear, and the Backlash Has Already Begun

Throughout the final twenty years, the aviation sector’s international energy-related carbon emissions have grown quicker than rail, street, or delivery emissions. Amid an pressing must transition this trade to scrub power sources, Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) has proposed a daring answer: nuclear energy.

On Wednesday, August 6, airport chief Phil Washington and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced they had been looking for proposals for a $1.25 million feasibility examine of a small, on-site nuclear reactor to assist Denver Worldwide’s fast development. The small modular reactor would offer clear power to gas the rising demand positioned on airport belongings whereas assembly security and buyer expertise targets, Washington mentioned in a DEN assertion. Following pushback from a member of Denver Metropolis Council, nonetheless, the airport has paused its plans.

“There had been no dialog with myself, the council workplace, not one of the [registered neighborhood organizations], nobody locally about even the concept of a feasibility examine, and nothing mentioned in regards to the pure sources that is perhaps affected by that feasibility examine,” mentioned Councilmember Stacy Gilmore throughout a Council assembly on Monday, August 11, in keeping with Denverite. Gilmore represents District 11, which incorporates DEN.

Efficient Friday, August 8, the airport delayed its request for proposals to permit the group time to think about an summary of the potential venture, an unnamed DEN spokesperson advised Denverite in an electronic mail. “Our objective is to current this concept to the group, hearken to their suggestions, and perceive what they wish to see included within the feasibility examine,” they said.

DEN was the third-busiest airport in North America in 2024, serving greater than 80 million passengers that yr. The airport expects that determine to climb to 120 million by 2045. Based on Wednesday’s announcement, DEN has already put in 100 acres (40 hectares) of photo voltaic arrays, elevated its electrical car fleet, and constructed the most important power efficiency contract in Colorado. These are essential steps towards the airport’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, “however we should plan now and discover all potential choices in order that we’re ready for the long run,” Washington mentioned.

He believes a small modular reactor would assist DEN meet its future clear power calls for. This compact, scalable know-how provides dependable energy across the clock—a big benefit over intermittent renewable power sources similar to photo voltaic and wind. It could actually generate as much as 300 megawatts of energy per unit, which is about one-third the capability of conventional nuclear reactors, in keeping with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Washington mentioned small modular reactors could be “stackable” and “scalable” to extend capability because the airport expands, AVWeb reports.

Not everyone seems to be satisfied. Based on The Colorado Solar, critics instantly raised considerations in regards to the airport’s nuclear venture, stating the absence of a U.S. repository for spent nuclear gas, excessive value overruns sometimes related to nuclear energy vegetation, and the truth that no modular reactors have but been accomplished within the U.S. In mild of those and different points, detractors argue that DEN ought to as a substitute give attention to increasing its photo voltaic and wind capability.

In Wednesday’s announcement, Washington acknowledged that small modular reactors are a comparatively new know-how and emphasised the significance of the feasibility examine. “We all know that something we’d do would require vital funding and that SMRs are advanced. So, we’re protecting an open thoughts, studying extra and persevering with to responsibly plan for the airport’s future,” he mentioned.

Amid sturdy opposition from many group members, it’s unclear whether or not DEN’s feasibility examine will get off the bottom. Mayor Johnston hopes the airport not less than has the chance to discover nuclear energy as an emissions-cutting choice. “We’re on no account slowing down on all of our different formidable local weather targets round renewable power,” Johnston mentioned throughout a Wednesday press convention, in keeping with The Colorado Solar. “That is an investigation, it’s a examine as as to whether or not we predict nuclear could be one a part of that puzzle.”