# Amazon Funds 12 Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Indiana Amazon partners with X-energy and AEP to deploy 960-megawatt nuclear power capacity. - **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-19 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/41baaa22-3dda-4893-8f0a-257cb7a86c30 ## Strategic Nuclear Power Investment Amazon is funding the development of a 960-megawatt nuclear plant in Indiana, marking a significant step in its energy strategy. The project involves twelve Xe-100 small modular reactors to be operated by American Electric Power. Amazon will serve as the primary customer, securing power for its data centers and the public grid. ## Partnership and Scale Expansion This agreement represents the second commercial deal between Amazon and X-energy, following an initial partnership announced two years ago. The new project is three times larger than their previous collaboration. Amazon previously led a $700 million Series C-1 funding round for X-energy in October 2024 to accelerate these nuclear infrastructure goals. ## Long-term Generation Targets Amazon and X-energy have established a long-term roadmap aiming to build 5 gigawatts of new nuclear generating capacity across the United States by 2039. This ambitious target underscores the company's reliance on nuclear energy to meet the massive electricity demands of its expanding cloud computing infrastructure and global data center operations. ## Operational Dependencies and Risks The project's timeline remains contingent on X-energy successfully delivering its first power plant at a Dow Chemical site in Seadrift, Texas. This facility faces regulatory challenges, including a lawsuit from the state of Texas regarding water and waste regulation compliance. Construction permits for the Seadrift site are currently under Nuclear Regulatory Commission review. ## Manufacturing and Industry Challenges Small modular reactors are viewed as a potential solution to the nuclear industry's historical issues with budget overruns and delayed timelines. By utilizing mass manufacturing, developers hope to standardize costs and schedules. However, industry experts caution that the economic benefits of mass production for nuclear reactors may take a decade to materialize. ## Market Performance and Valuation X-energy went public on the Nasdaq in April with an IPO price of $23 per share. Although shares initially surged 27% on the first day, the stock price has since declined by nearly two-thirds. Following the announcement of the Amazon deal, the stock saw a brief 10% increase during pre-market trading sessions. ## Site Selection and Infrastructure The proposed 960-megawatt plant will be constructed on the site of a demolished coal power plant located south of Terre Haute, Indiana. Utilizing existing brownfield sites for new nuclear infrastructure can streamline grid interconnection processes. This site will host twelve Xe-100 reactors, integrating advanced nuclear technology into the existing regional energy grid. ## Broader Industry Implications Cloud computing companies are increasingly betting on small modular reactors to stabilize their energy supply chains. This trend highlights a shift toward direct investment in power generation to support high-demand AI and data center workloads. The success of this Indiana project could set a precedent for future corporate-led nuclear energy infrastructure deployments. ## Sources covering this story - https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/19/amazon-to-fund-12-small-nuclear-reactors-at-former-indiana-coal-plant/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._