Fort Drum eyed as site for nuc plant

 FORT DRUM, New York (WWNY) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined a small nuclear reactor would be “the optimal option” to supply Fort Drum’s energy needs.

Governor Hochul and state officials met with Fort Drum officials and discussed the possibility of locating a “small modular reactor” on Drum when the governor visited Drum in August, 7 News learned.

If a “small modular reactor” (SMR) is successful on Drum, additional reactors might be deployed throughout the state to help New York meet its renewable energy goals.

Small modular reactors are, as their name suggests, much smaller than traditional nuclear reactors, like the ones near Oswego.

They also incorporate newer generations of nuclear technology. Proponents argue they are safer and far less costly than traditional nuclear plants.

Drum needs about 60 megawatts of power. Since a biomass plant on post which burned wood closed in 2023, Drum has been forced to draw its energy off the regular power grid, the one used by businesses and homes.

The military wants Drum to be energy independent

In a joint letter released Friday evening, congresswomen Claudia Tenney and Elise Stefanik, who both represent Drum, wrote to Secretary of The Army Christine Wormuth that “As the Army is examining installations to host SMRs, we believe that Fort Drum in Upstate New York should be the Army’s first choice.

“Placing an SMR at Fort Drum will provide secure, resilient, and independent power for the Northeast’s power projection platform and help to ensure the United States leads the global competition over nuclear energy technology,” Tenney and Stefanik wrote.

The congresswomen argue that Russia and China are working together to advance their nuclear power technology.

“The United States cannot allow the PRC and Russia to control the global supply chains for critical sources of energy and we must lead in developing and deploying advanced nuclear technology. The Army’s plan to work with industry to rapidly access and ramp up nuclear microreactor technology will put the United States on a path to win the advanced nuclear technology competition,” Tenney and Stefanik wrote.

Their letter indicates the Army is planning a “pilot program” of using small reactors and notes that “Fort Drum and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted a study which identified a small modular reactor as the optimal option to fortify Fort Drum’s secure access to energy.”

“Fort Drum also stands out as an ideal location for an SMR due to the Army’s unique ownership of the utilities and infrastructure on the installation. This ownership would simplify the deployment of an SMR, making it far easier compared to other locations where the Army does not control the utilities.

“Additionally, Fort Drum has a skilled workforce with significant experience in on-site energy generation, thanks to years of operating its biomass facility. The installation’s power demands, and the extreme temperatures of the North Country would also offer valuable data for the SMR pilot program,” Tenney and Stefanik wrote.

It wasn’t clear Friday night how soon Drum could get a nuclear plant, if it is chosen by the Army as a site.

Fort Drum eyed as site for nuc plant

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