Denver International Airport, the country’s third-busiest airport, is exploring the possibility of building a small nuclear reactor on its campus to help meet growing demands for electricity and cut the use of carbon-emitting power.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Phil Washington, airport CEO, said Wednesday that DIA has put out a request for proposals for a study on the feasibility of building a small modular nuclear reactor onsite. The reactors under development in the U.S. are significantly smaller in size than a conventional nuclear facility and produce a fraction of the power.

Washington said the airport is expected to see more than 120 million passengers by 2045. A record-breaking 82.3 million traveled through DIA in 2024 , up 5.8% from 2023.

“We will need a sustainable power su

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