Nine Army posts will take part in an initiative to deploy micronuclear reactors on military bases to provide energy independent of the local power grid, officials have announced.
Microreactor power plants represent a significant technological advancement in safety, security and waste management, Army officials said in announcing the initial deployment of Project Janus.
The nine bases participating in Project Janus include Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airborne Division; and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division. Other bases include Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
“These early site selections align with the Department of War’s goal of accelerating the pace of deploying on-site nuclear generation at our installations,” Jordan Gillils, assistant Army secretary for installations, energy and environment, said in a statement. “Through the use of the Army’s unique nuclear regulatory authorities, we are deploying a resilient, secure, and reliable energy supply for critical defense operations and in support of the most lethal land-based fighting force in the world.”
The rollout of Janus technology will occur in stages as the Army validates lessons learned and ensures safe and efficient implementation. Each project will be self-contained and appropriately protected, officials said.
“All projects will comply with the applicable federal, state, and local regulations and leverage the safety features inherent in next-generation reactor designs,” officials said.”The Army does not anticipate any significant impact to installation land use.”
The Army is collaborating with the Defense Innovation Unit, which focuses on accelerating the adoption of commercial technology within the military, to deploy the first commercially operated nuclear reactor on an Army post by 2030.
