Fort Campbell Being Considered for New Clean Energy Technology

Fort Campbell might soon be home to some exciting new technology. The U.S. Army is looking at nine bases around the country for a special project called the Janus Program, and Fort Campbell made the list.

 

This program would bring a small nuclear power plant called a microreactor to the base. Think of it like a mini power station that can make clean, steady energy right where it's needed.

 

What's a Microreactor?

 

A microreactor is a next-generation way to make power. It's different from the big nuclear plants you might picture. These are much smaller and are designed to be super safe from the start. The Army is working with the Defense Innovation Unit to bring in commercial companies who build these reactors.

 

The goal is simple: give military bases their own reliable power source. This means Fort Campbell could keep running even if regular power lines go down. That's important for national defense and keeping our soldiers ready for their missions.

 

Jordan Gillis, who helps lead the Army's work on energy and the environment, said these site picks are all about speeding up the use of on-site nuclear power at military bases. The power would be secure, reliable, and help support what he called "the most lethal land-based fighting force in the world."

 

How Fort Campbell Was Chosen

 

The Army didn't just pick bases at random. They looked at a lot of things to find the best spots. They checked out each base's energy needs, what kind of power setup they already have, environmental factors, and whether the technology would work well there.

 

Fort Campbell is in good company. The other eight bases being considered are Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, Fort Drum, Fort Hood, Fort Wainwright, Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Redstone Arsenal.

 

Safe and Smart Energy

 

One thing the Army wants everyone to know is that these microreactors are built to be safe. They're not like older nuclear technology that needed lots of backup plans. These new designs are safe by how they're made, not just by following safety rules.

 

Dr. Jeff Waksman, who also works on Army installations and energy, said the Janus Program is taking its first step by matching specific reactor designs to specific Army bases. He said they want to "move to bending metal as quickly as possible," which means they're ready to start building once everything is approved.

 

The Army is also working with the Department of Energy and national labs to make sure everything is done right. They're bringing in experts to review designs, operation plans, and emergency plans.

 

What Happens Next

 

The Army doesn't expect these reactors to take up much space or change how the base uses its land. The rollout will happen in stages to keep everything safe as they go.

 

Timelines for each location will be shared later. Right now, the Army is gathering feedback from companies who build these reactors through the Defense Innovation Unit.

 

They're also planning to keep the public informed and welcome questions as the planning moves forward.

 

This all follows an executive order about using advanced nuclear reactor technologies for important government needs. It's part of a bigger push to make sure military bases have secure, clean energy they can count on.

 

For Fort Campbell and the Clarksville area, this could mean being part of cutting-edge energy technology that helps our military stay strong while using clean power sources.

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