Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Will a nuclear plant be built on university property in Texas and help power the Texas grid? Maybe!

Happy Tuesday!

By now you probably realize we like energy!  We wrote in regard to the second nuclear reactor in Georgia going online back in May, and the 3-Mile-Island being brought back to life in September.  The future estimates of electricity usage in Texas could nearly double in less than a decade and the promises to reduce emissions has made nuclear energy look like a possibility as a path forward.  We have more exciting news for the nuclear energy industry Texas wants you and a report is due on the governor’s desk by the beginning of December on how to bring it here.  I guess, Texas A&M saw the writing on the wall, so they made an announcement recently, and we decided to let you know!

Did anyone happen to read The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on November 8, 2024, their article titled, “A&M to open its Bryan campus to nuclear reactors”?  In the article, it goes on to speak on how Texas A&M (TAMU) has thrown its hat into the nuclear energy ring by its Board of Regents recently agreeing to them sending a letter of intent to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the permission for an early site permit for commercial nuclear reactors on campus, and if the NRC green lights their request they will be the first higher education getting a commercial nuclear reactor license.   In the past, TAMU requested interest from the nuclear energy companies on their thoughts of TAMU hosting nuclear facilities and 23 companies responded.  After much thought, TAMU has announced they are taking applications for their Rellis Campus in Bryan, Texas for small modular reactors (SMRs) which will connect to the Texas electric grid.  SMRs have a smaller footprint then the 3-mile island reactors of the past, lower cost to build, and they generate up to 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity.  TAMU is not a stranger to nuclear energy they have a small research nuclear generator for their nuclear engineering program, and it is the largest program in the country, thus having a SMR seems to be the next step for them.  A few companies have shown interest in completing the application for the 2300-acre university.  We wish TAMU luck in bringing more power to College Station/Bryan or as we like to fondly say “Aggieland!”  If you would like to read more of The Houston Chronicle’s article, please click the link: Texas A&M offers its Bryan campus for commercial nuclear reactors.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and with less of a carbon footprint or just find out what is underneath your feet to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We would like to wish Texas A&M luck in their football game this weekend!  “GO AGGIES!”

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of your week!  

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Houston Chronicle’s article. **