Microsoft's powering up its AI with a blast from the past: Three Mile Island's Unit 1.
Why it matters:
Small business owners should take note as this move signals a shift in energy production and consumption. AI's growing appetite for power could reshape the energy landscape, potentially affecting future costs and sustainability practices for businesses of all sizes.
The big picture:
Nuclear power is making a comeback, and it's not just for supervillains anymore.
With AI's insatiable hunger for energy, tech giants are turning to atomic solutions. This trend could lead to more stable energy grids and potentially lower costs for small businesses in the long run.
By the numbers:
- 835 megawatts: The power output of Three Mile Island's Unit 1, enough to juice up 800,000 homes (or one really ambitious Tamagotchi).
- $1.6 billion: Constellation Energy's investment to restart the reactor, proving that even nuclear plants can have a midlife crisis.
- 2028: The year Unit 1 is set to go online, just in time for the robot apocalypse (kidding, mostly).
The plot twist:
Who knew AI would be the reason we're dusting off mothballed nuclear reactors?
It's like finding out your old Furby is the key to solving climate change. This unexpected turn could spark a new era of energy innovation, potentially benefiting small businesses with more reliable and sustainable power sources.
