A new chapter for Google’s energy strategy is unfolding in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the tech giant confirmed the location of its very first nuclear project. The initiative comes through a partnership with Kairos Power, a California startup working on advanced small modular reactors (SMRs). The chosen site, dubbed Hermes 2, is projected to deliver 50 megawatts of power directly to Google’s growing network of data centers.

Local voices in Oak Ridge had mixed feelings when the news broke earlier this week. Some residents expressed excitement that the town—long associated with U.S. nuclear history—will once again be a pioneer in energy innovation. Others quietly worry about safety, though officials insist the Hermes 2 reactor design uses molten fluoride salt technology that is inherently safer than traditional large-scale nuclear facilities.

Google, for its part, framed the announcement as a critical step toward meeting its climate commitments. Executives highlighted that nuclear energy provides reliable, carbon-free electricity that solar and wind can’t always guarantee. A Google spokesperson even admitted in an almost awkward tone that “our data centers can’t run on hope and sunshine alone.”

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will oversee the integration of Hermes 2 into the regional grid. TVA CEO Don Moul praised the agreement, pointing out that Google is absorbing some of the early risks of first-of-a-kind nuclear projects. That, he said, helps protect local ratepayers from shouldering costs they might not understand or accept.

By 2035, Google and Kairos Power expect to scale up to 500 MW across several modular reactors. If successful, this would mark the largest direct corporate purchase of nuclear power in U.S. history. Industry analysts note that the move could push other major tech firms to consider similar deals, especially as pressure mounts to keep massive data centers carbon-neutral while still handling skyrocketing demand from AI workloads.

Ordinary workers in Tennessee say they see job opportunities in construction and operations, even if they stumble over the jargon of “SMRs” and “molten salt reactors.” For them, what matters most is stable employment and a feeling that the community is once again part of the energy frontier.

More details about Google’s nuclear initiative are available at Wccftech.