Offshore nuclear barges could power ports and data centers -- starting with California, where nuclear is banned | Fortune

The U.S. is moving toward a “nuclear renaissance” for the AI data-center boom, with a focus on small nuclear reactors built offshore to supply power to coastal facilities and ships. Momentum could start in California, which banned new nuclear plants 50 years ago. This summer, the Port of Long Beach signed an agreement with the Trump administration to develop next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) for ports, data centers, and vessels. Similar concepts have existed for decades in naval use, and Russia deployed a floating nuclear station in 2020. However, analysts say commercial deployment is still years away due to regulatory, supply-chain, and manufacturing needs.