Why the Revival of Three Mile Island Is Sparking a Nuclear Comeback—And Dividing America

• Three Mile Island is set to reopen in 2028, driven by surging energy needs from tech and AI industries.
• Data center power consumption has doubled or tripled since 2014, with U.S. electricity demand forecasted to rise 15% by 2050.
• Nuclear is gaining renewed favor as a clean, reliable, carbon-free energy source, though public unease persists from past accidents.
• Prominent climate activists now view nuclear as a key, transitional solution for reducing emissions alongside renewables.
• Modern nuclear plants operate under strict safety standards, yet no new U.S. reactors are currently under construction due to perception hurdles.

On the banks of the winding Susquehanna River, the skeletal towers of Constellation Energy‘s Three Mile Island loom against the sky, dormant since 2019. Now, a surge of technological appetite and the relentless march of artificial intelligence have converged to resurrect the infamous plant—a name that evokes shadows for those who remember the harrowing spring of 1979.

This revival—set for 2028—isn’t just a story about a power station humming back to life. It’s a tale of how the insatiable energy demands of tech giants are igniting a second nuclear age in America. When Microsoft inked a deal to draw the plant’s silent might for its data centers, Three Mile Island became a symbol of fresh urgency: technology’s booming hunger for electrons, and the nation’s evolving relationship with nuclear power.

• Dramatic Energy Demand: Analyses by the U.S. Department of Energy paint a startling portrait: Data-driven industries have doubled or even tripled their electricity use since 2014, and the nation’s overall consumption edges ever upward—projected for a whopping 15% jump by 2050.
• Nuclear Steps Onto Center Stage: Lea Booth, energy analyst at Washington Policy & Analysis, calls it nothing less than “a second nuclear revival.” Clean, reliable, and newly buoyed by tax credits, nuclear energy is being courted as never before by an industry eager to keep the world’s digital infrastructure online.

But the ghost of Three Mile Island’s past cannot be banished so easily. The word “nuclear” still sends a chill—summoning images of panicked headlines, evacuation sirens, and the radioactive fallout that ravaged Chernobyl and cast a long shadow from Pripyat across Europe. Even the quieter crisis of Fukushima lingers in the public psyche, its lessons burned into collective memory.

• Public Wariness: Environmental protests that surged in the 1970s warned of nuclear mishaps, war, and the pernicious legacy of spent fuel. The bitter debate never entirely faded, even as plants were shuttered or left to rust.
• A Shifting Climate Conversation: Now, environmental voices such as Bill McKibben and climate activist Greta Thunberg insist a pragmatic embrace of nuclear may be essential—at least, a stepping-stone—if we want to cut carbon emissions before the planet’s fever breaks us.

“I have no problem with these nuclear plans,” wrote McKibben recently. “The world is installing more than a gigawatt of solar power every day, but a gigawatt is about the size of an old-style nuclear plant.” Solar and wind race ahead, yet nuclear persists as a uniquely powerful, carbon-free alternative for the grid’s base load.

Advocates chafe at the fears that continue to swirl around Three Mile Island. “No one died,” stresses the U.S. Department of Energy, “and radiation exposure to the public was less than a typical X-ray.” The plant’s collapse set a higher bar for regulation and safety, leading to what some say is one of the strictest nuclear safety regimes in the world.

• Modern Safety: “We’ve learned to operate to such extraordinary levels that none of the accidents from previous years would threaten our nuclear fleet,” says Mark Nelson of Radiant Energy Group. Despite incidents, the core technology endured, and even the most storied plants eventually returned to operation.
• America’s Nuclear Inventory: As of early 2025, America counts 54 nuclear plants and 94 reactors. The World Nuclear Association notes 65 reactors now being built worldwide — but none yet breaking ground in the U.S., a disparity some blame on “a marketing problem,” not a technological one.

The debate rages: Can new-generation nuclear power shed its haunted past and become the linchpin of a carbon-free, AI-driven future? Or are we merely postponing the harder question—how to make renewables not just plentiful, but permanently reliable?

Three Mile Island’s return is more than an engineering project. It’s a cultural referendum on risk, resilience, and the energy crossroads that will define this century. For now, the cooling towers await—silent, standing testament to both dread and promise, as America rewrites its nuclear story.

You Won’t Believe the Nuclear Comeback: Pros, Cons, and Controversies Behind Three Mile Island’s Revival

• Pros
  • Clean Energy Leader:

    Nuclear facilities like those operated by Constellation Energy generate vast amounts of electricity without direct carbon emissions, helping to combat climate change.

  • Reliable Power Source:

    Nuclear plants provide consistent, base-load electricity—addressing the energy demands of digital giants such as Microsoft and supporting AI-driven data infrastructure.

  • Innovative Revival:

    According to the U.S. Department of Energy, advancements in safety measures and new financial incentives are propelling a “second nuclear revival” in the U.S.

• Cons & Limitations
  • Lingering Public Fear:

    The historical shadow of Three Mile Island’s 1979 accident, coupled with disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, continues to stir public wariness toward nuclear energy.

  • High Upfront Costs and Delays:

    Construction of new nuclear reactors remains financially daunting and slow, as detailed by the World Nuclear Association, with the U.S. not breaking ground on new projects despite global momentum.

  • Challenges with Nuclear Waste:

    Safe, long-term disposal of spent nuclear fuel remains unresolved, posing environmental and security dilemmas into the future.

• Controversies
  • Environmental Dilemma:

    While many environmental activists—including Bill McKibben and Greta Thunberg—now cautiously endorse nuclear as a low-carbon option, fierce debate continues within the environmental community.

  • Marketing vs. Technology:

    Despite technological improvements, new plant development arguably faces more of a “marketing problem” than a technical one, struggling to overcome fear and skepticism.

The Second Nuclear Age: What’s Next for America’s Power Play?

• AI and Data Demand Will Reshape Energy Infrastructure

  Rapid growth in artificial intelligence and data center operations—epitomized by recent deals involving Microsoft—is expected to drive exponential increases in electricity use. The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts at least a 15% national surge by 2050, with tech sector consumption leading the way.

• Nuclear Renaissance Fueled by Policy and Innovation

  Tax credits, new safety protocols, and public-private partnerships are likely to propel the revival of existing nuclear plants and encourage investment in advanced reactor designs. Organizations like the World Nuclear Association anticipate a global uptick in reactor construction, with U.S. projects poised to accelerate within the decade.

• Changing Public Perceptions on Nuclear Energy

  Major environmental figures such as Bill McKibben and Greta Thunberg signal a shift in green discourse, framing nuclear energy as a necessary bridge for decarbonizing the grid. Expect public debates to focus less on past disasters and more on nuclear as an ally in the climate fight.

• Safety and Regulation to Define Industry’s Future

  Enhanced regulatory standards, championed by bodies like the U.S. Department of Energy, will remain a prerequisite for new nuclear growth. Innovation in waste management and next-generation safety systems aims to address the legacy issues that have long haunted nuclear development.

• Balancing Nuclear with Emerging Renewables

  With solar and wind installation rates both breaking records, the coming years will see critical decisions around grid reliability, storage, and baseload supply. Experts predict a hybridized landscape—where nuclear, renewables, and smart technology all vie to power America’s digital future.