Texas’ push to meet soaring power demand with nuclear energy could spark uranium mining revival

Dylan Baddour | Posted 12/06/2024

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State leaders want nuclear reactors to provide consistent, low-carbon power to large industrial facilities. But in South Texas, locals worry what a uranium mining boom could mean for their groundwater.

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In South Texas, uranium mines are being reactivated and new ones are in the pipeline to extract radioactive fuel from the region's shallow aquifers, marking the beginning of a nuclear renaissance. With Texas focusing on high-tech industries requiring immense electricity, influential figures push for next-gen nuclear reactors to power these sectors, aiming to position the state as a global nuclear hub.

Despite the interest in nuclear power due to its consistent energy production without emissions, concerns surface about the risk of accidents and uranium mining's potential threat to rural aquifers. The resurgence in nuclear energy is tied to the tech industry's energy demands and geopolitical factors like the war in Ukraine, as U.S. efforts in domestic uranium production and nuclear reactor development gain momentum.

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Source Link: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-nuclear-power-uranium-mining/

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Texas’ push to meet soaring power demand with nuclear energy could spark uranium mining revival

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