FAIRBANKS (AP) — The U.S. Air Force has selected a Fairbanks base to receive the nation’s first nuclear microreactor at an Air Force installation.
Eielson Air Force Base, about 20 miles southeast of downtown Fairbanks, was selected in a project that began in 2019, when federal legislation required the military to identify potential sites for development and operation of a microreactor by 2027.
“This technology has the potential to provide true energy assurance, and the existing energy infrastructure and compatible climate at Eielson make for the perfect location to validate its feasibility,” Mark Correll, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for environment, safety and infrastructure, said in a statement.
Eielson currently burns coal at its power plant. The small nuclear power plant could meet up to one-third of the base’s peak winter power demand.
“(Microreactors) are a promising technology for ensuring energy resilience and reliability, and are particularly well-suited for powering and heating remote domestic military bases like Eielson,” Correll said.
The microreactor will be commercially owned. It will be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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