USS Nimitz reactors may fuel AI data centers after retirement

The USS Nimitz, the U.S. Navy’s oldest active nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has recently completed its final deployment and entered a lengthy decommissioning process. Central to this process is the challenge of dismantling its two nuclear reactors, which provided the ship with near-unlimited endurance at sea. The decommissioning is complex, costly—expected to exceed $1 billion—and will unfold over multiple phases spanning potentially decades. Preparations are already underway, with Huntington Ingalls Industries awarded a contract to begin inactivation and defueling of the reactors. In light of the Nimitz’s retirement, a novel proposal has emerged to repurpose retired naval nuclear reactors to power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Texas-based HGP Intelligent Energy LLC suggests using these reactors to supply 450 to 520 megawatts of electricity for AI workloads, potentially at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This approach could be more cost-effective than building new civilian nuclear plants, leveraging existing naval reactor technology, supply chains,