FERC Rejects Amazon Data Center’s Link to Nuclear Reactor

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has denied an interconnection agreement update for an Amazon data center linked to a nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania, citing concerns over public costs and grid stability.

FERC’s decision halts plans to increase capacity at Amazon’s data center located at Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear station. Connecting the data center directly to the nuclear plant raised concerns about diverting power from the regional grid, potentially affecting tariffs and reliability. Commissioner Mark Christie highlighted potential impacts on reliability and customer costs, while FERC Chairman Willie Phillips dissented, noting national security considerations.