Denver International Airport’s Nuclear Power Pitch: Bold Vision or Fallout Waiting to Happen?
Hello everyone. Strap in, because today we’re talking about an airport – yes, an airport – that wants to join the nuclear club. Not content with being the busiest airport in North America in 2024, Denver International Airport (DEN) apparently thinks it’s time to trade solar panels for uranium pellets and explore the joys of having their very own small modular nuclear reactor. Because nothing says “Welcome to Denver” quite like the comforting hum of a fission reaction next to your baggage carousel.
The Proposal That Shocked the Council
So on August 6, airport chief Phil Washington and Mayor Mike Johnston went public with a $1.25 million feasibility study pitch. The aim? Figure out if a small modular reactor (SMR) could give DEN clean, 24/7 energy to fuel its hellbent expansion to 120 million passengers by 2045. It sounds bold, futuristic… suspiciously like something from a late-stage Civilization VI tech tree. The plan was moving forward until a local councilmember, Stacy Gilmore, interrupted the party, wondering why nobody bothered to tell, well, literally anyone in the affected community. A minor oversight, right? Like forgetting to tell someone you’re putting a reactor in their backyard.
Community Pushback: Surprise, People Like to Be Consulted
DEN, showing the speed of a laggy online match, hit pause on August 8, promising to, brace yourself, “present the idea to the community” and “listen to their feedback.” Revolutionary thinking. Until then, the feasibility study is shelved so locals can absorb the concept of a mini-nuke power plant next to their airport like it’s the latest DLC they never asked for. The motive, DEN says, is to meet future clean energy needs with consistent power, unlike those flaky wind and solar players that occasionally take coffee breaks. Stackable and scalable SMRs sound nice on paper – in reality, this is cutting-edge tech that hasn’t crossed the U.S. finish line even once. But hey, why not make a major international airport your beta test?
The Critics: High Costs, Nuclear Waste, and Magical Thinking
The opposing team has come loaded with points: There’s still no permanent U.S. storage solution for spent nuclear fuel, nuclear projects are notorious for budget overruns that make AAA game microtransactions look cheap, and, oh yes – zero modular reactors completed anywhere in the U.S. yet. The argument here is “How about more solar and wind instead?” Which is fine, but let’s be real, you’re not going to run an airport this size on good vibes and a few rooftop panels.
Playing the Long Game
Washington admits SMRs are complex, expensive, and unproven, but hey, that’s what studies are for, right? You gather data, crunch numbers, and pretend there’s not an undercurrent of “we want a reactor because it sounds awesome.” Mayor Johnston insists this nuclear flirtation won’t derail other clean energy projects. Translation: This is the side quest, solar and EV fleets are still the main mission. Given DEN’s track record with 100 acres of solar and a beefed-up EV lineup, it’s not all hot air – but the nuclear idea feels like trying to speedrun the clean energy game on hard mode without checking if there’s a checkpoint ahead.
Verdict: Big Energy Move or Boss Fight in the Making?
Look, the energy grid is messy, aviation is a carbon-spewing boss monster that refuses to die, and DEN is right to look for big solutions. But jumping straight to your own on-site fission palace? That’s the equivalent of swapping your trusty sword for a legendary weapon you’ve never tested, right before the final battle. It might work beautifully… or it explodes in your face (politically or literally).
My diagnosis as your resident sarcastic MD? Denver’s idea is a massive, risky procedure without a solid history of successful operations in this country. Could be groundbreaking, could be a waiting room disaster. Right now, the prognosis is uncertain at best, and the recovery period could be long and expensive.
Overall impression: Interesting play, potentially high reward, but the dangers and unknowns make me lean toward “bad idea,” at least until the tech has some victories under its belt. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.
Source: This U.S. Airport Wants to Go Nuclear, and the Backlash Has Already Begun, https://gizmodo.com/this-u-s-airport-wants-to-go-nuclear-and-the-backlash-has-already-begun-2000641893
