Amazon is taking a bold step toward a carbon-free future by investing in a groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR) project in Washington state. The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, located near Richland, is being developed in partnership with Energy Northwest and SMR innovator X-energy. This facility will not only power Amazon’s operations but also support the broader U.S. energy grid with clean, reliable, around-the-clock energy—critical for powering everything from data centers to artificial intelligence.

“This project isn’t just about new technology,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer (What Are SMRs?, 2025). She continues, “It’s about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that will support our growing digital world” (What Are SMRs?, 2025).

Unlike traditional nuclear plants, which can span over a square mile, the Cascade facility will deliver 960 megawatts (MW) of power from 12 compact, modular reactors occupying just a few city blocks. The first phase will include four of X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors, producing an initial 320 MW, with construction expected to begin by the end of the decade and operations targeted for the 2030s.

These SMRs are designed for faster deployment, simplified construction, and lower costs—making them a key solution for both clean energy and growing energy demands. Amazon and X-energy have also signed agreements with South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. to help speed up deployment in the U.S.

Amazon has long been a leader in renewable energy, holding the title of the world’s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy since 2020. Its investment in SMRs through the Climate Pledge Fund marks a major move to diversify and strengthen its carbon-free energy portfolio.

“One year ago, we set out with Amazon to reimagine the way we advance new energy projects in the United States,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy (What Are SMRs?, 2025). Sell goes on to say that “the scale of this work is historic, and we [X-energy] are privileged to have world-class partners like Amazon and Energy Northwest in this effort” (What Are SMRs?, 2025).

The Cascade facility is part of a broader strategy to bring over 5 gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear energy to the U.S. grid by 2039—enough to power 3.8 million homes. More than just an energy project, Cascade is an economic catalyst. It’s expected to create over 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent roles in nuclear operations and engineering.

To build a future-ready workforce, Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA, is launching the Energy Learning Center, complete with a simulator that mimics the Xe-100 control room. It’s like a flight simulator, but for a nuclear plant, this type of simulator “helps demystify nuclear energy and shows students they can be part of something transformative” said Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest (What Are SMRs?, 2025).

In addition, Amazon has signed an agreement with Talen Energy to build a data center next to its nuclear facility in Pennsylvania, further expanding its nuclear-powered digital infrastructure. As demand for electricity surges with the rise of AI and connected technologies, Amazon’s investment in SMRs reflects a long-term commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact.