1.19.24 Proposed data cetner woud get power from Millstone nuclear plant

Proposed data center would get power from Millstone nuclear plant
Siting council has denied Dominion petition to cede evaluation,
approvals to town of Waterford; residents express concerns
by Erica E. PhillipsJanuary 19, 2024 @ 11:18 am
The Millstone nuclear power station. CREDIT: DOMINION
RESOURCES
A proposed data center complex on the Millstone nuclear power
station’s private property in Waterford would draw electricity
directly from the plant — a unique plan its developers describe as
environmentally friendly, minimally disruptive and economically
advantageous for the region.
But it could be a tough sell to regulators, residents and other
interested parties, given the sensitive nature of the location.
Data centers are the internet’s physical form: warehouses packed
with routers and servers that process digital activity from TikTok to
tax filings. With internet capabilities expanding rapidly into realms
like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, so too is demand for
data center capacity.
That’s created a big opportunity for investors and developers,
provided they can find a affordable, reliable and relatively clean
source of energy — a challenge particularly acute in a state like
Connecticut, which is known for high energy costs. Large data
centers, referred to as “hyperscale,” can require as much electricity
as 80,000 households, experts say. And as regulators increasingly
clamp down on carbon emissions, data center developers are also
seeking power sources that produce less greenhouse gas. 
Developer NE Edge identified a creative solution.

The proposed development would occupy less than 5% of
Millstone’s 526-acre site — two 2-story data center facilities
spanning an area of roughly 1.5 million square feet, as well as space
for an electric switchyard connecting the power station directly to
the data centers. NE Edge and Dominion Energy, which owns and
operates the Millstone Power Station in Waterford, presented the
idea to town leaders early last year.
The 300-megawatt data centers would purchase electricity directly
from Dominion, “creating a ready to market, non-carbon solution to
the pressing needs of the regional Cloud infrastructure,” George
McLaughlin of NE Edge wrote in an introductory letter to Waterford
First Selectman Robert Brule.
“We are convinced this project has the potential to provide benefits
to all involved,” he wrote.
Why Connecticut?
Connecticut entered the race to attract data centers in 2021, when
the legislature approved a business incentive program waiving sales
and property taxes for 20 years on data centers that invest at least
$200 million in the state — or just $50 million if the facility is
located within a state-designated enterprise zone. The tax
exemptions may be extended to 30 years if a $400 million
investment is made, or a $200 million investment in an enterprise
zone.
“Connecticut needs to get in the game and bring this industry to our
state,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement at the time urging
lawmakers to pass the legislation. He said the tax incentive was
“exactly what our residents want to see when it comes to our
commitment to economic growth and continuing our Connecticut
comeback.”