Ep240: Brian Smith: Nuclear’s Sexy Glow—The Exquisite Power Fueling the AI Revolution! from The QTS Experience

Ep240: Brian Smith: Nuclear’s Sexy Glow—The Exquisite Power Fueling the AI Revolution!

1 hour 6 minutes Posted Jan 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm.

Introduction: Is Nuclear Getting Sexy?

Microsoft, Three Mile Island, and the AI Catalyst

The Cold War Legacy: Why Nuclear Became ”Scary”

Community Engagement: Moving Beyond the ”Homer Simpson” Trope

Breaking the Economic Stalemate

The Nuclear Navy Model: Competitive Advantage over LCOE

Federal Solicitations: Data Centers on Government Land

SMRs and the Factory-Fabrication Revolution

The Fuel Cycle: Domestic Enrichment and ”HALO”

The Advance Act: Reforming the NRC

Three Main Obstacles: Fuel, Workforce, and Supply Chain

The ”Sticky Widget”: Transmission and Rights of Way

”Embrace the Suck”: Why We Do Hard Things

Outro and Closing Remarks

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Show notes

Nuclear is getting sexy again, and it’s all AI’s fault. I’m sitting down with Brian Smith to talk about why big tech is reopening Three Mile Island and why splitting atoms is the most exquisite way to power our digital future. Let's get glowing!

Guest & Company Links

Guest: Brian Smith

Company Website: Idaho National Laboratory

Studies & References

Kairos Power & Google PPA: Partnership for reactor deployment in Tennessee.

Crane Clean Energy Center: Microsoft/Constellation partnership to reopen Three Mile Island.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL): Lead laboratory for Nuclear Energy Research.

The Advance Act (2024): Federal legislation reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP): DOE public-private partnership initiative.

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