Denver airport reveals 'plan' to build nuclear reactor
Washington, a former pick to lead Joe Biden 's FAA before he withdrew under heavy Republican criticism over the airport's safety record, told the panel discussion the he was seriously considering a 'small modular reactor' to meet growing energy demands. 'When we think about capacity and electricity and power, the development that's going on out there, we need to be thinking about this,' Washington said, according to Business Den.
'And so this is something that is imminent, that I plan to bring forward, for a study on how we can do this.' The project comes as the largest airport in the US by land area works to attract private development on its property.
When asked whether those development efforts were in the early or later stages, Washington said they might be in the 'bottom of the first.' 'I think we have warmed up,' he said. 'We have finished our warmups. And we might be in the first inning, bottom of the first.'
In 2023, Washington, who has served as DIA CEO since 2021, withdrew himself from being considered for former President Biden's pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He did so after facing criticism for his lack of aviation experience amid six high-profile near-miss collisions earlier this year.
Critics against Washington's ascension to top aviation regulator also cited his potential legal entanglements. These include questions about his connection to a corruption investigation in Los Angeles while heading the county's MTA.
Since then, Washington assumed the role of chief executive of Denver International, with Biden tapping him for the all-important role this past July. Washington's current post is his only involving aviation in a more than four-decade career.
Interest in nuclear energy is growing across the country as states look for cleaner ways to power their communities. In New York, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul recently directed the state's power authority to build a new zero-emission nuclear plant upstate.
This would be the first in a generation. In Colorado, Democratic Governor Jared Polis signed a new law in April that labels nuclear as a 'clean energy resource.'
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