Last Energy Plans 30 Microreactors in Haskell County, Texas, to Meet Growing Power Demands of Data Centers - Cozzy Energy Solutions
Last Energy, a Washington D.C.-based startup, plans to build 30 microreactors in Haskell County, Texas, to meet the growing power demands of data centers across the state. The company has secured a 200-acre site about an hour north of Abilene and 3.5 hours west of Dallas, where it will develop the site to provide power to "off-takers" via a mix of private wire and grid transmission. The development comes as Texas faces pressure to ramp up its power supplies due to an expansion of energy-intensive industries. Last Energy's flagship technology is a 20-MWe single-loop pressurized water reactor with a continuous output of 300C, which can be deployed in six to 24 months using standard full-length PWR fuel and closed-cycle air cooling. The company's microreactors can be pre-fabricated in a factory and rapidly deployed on-site, significantly reducing construction time and costs. Last Energy has taken its full-scale nuclear reactor module prototype, known as the Nuclear Island, on a road trip across the U.S. to showcase its technology. To address Texas' urgent need for a stable, dispatchable, and long-term power solution, policymakers are exploring advanced nuclear technology as a viable pathway to sustaining economic and industrial growth. A report by the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group suggests that nuclear could offer the state a lucrative opportunity for energy security, grid reliability, and economic development. The group's report notes that ERCOT's streamlined interconnection model, projected demand growth, and independent market structure make Texas an attractive investment for capital. Additionally, Texas' leading supply chain and manufacturing capacity due to local heavy industry operations will drive down costs, making the state a preferred supplier for national and global advanced reactor projects.