US nuclear fleet critical for AI and data center electricity demand

Existing US nuclear reactors are carrying more weight as AI and data centers push electricity demand higher. The country has 94 operating reactors averaging 44 years old, and license renewals could keep many running up to 80 years. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates data centers could account for 11.8 percent of US electricity use by 2030, while EIA forecasts slower near-term growth of around 2 percent annually. The article highlights flow-accelerated corrosion as a major aging risk in steam and feedwater systems. One plant applied about 8,000 square feet of high velocity thermal spray cladding per unit across two units over four years, with no extra outage days. The coating from a 2009 trial was still in good condition after more than 15 years, suggesting targeted maintenance can extend plant life without the cost of new construction. For anyone tracking grid reliability and low-carbon power, the story is a reminder that nuclear lifetime extension is a maintenance and regulatory challenge as much as a technology one.