Overview

• The airport issued a request for proposals on August 6 to evaluate on-site small modular reactors as a potential power source.
• Officials set the study’s budget at up to $1.25 million and expect it to run between six and 12 months.
• Colorado’s 2025 legislation newly designates nuclear power as a clean energy resource for state clean energy targets.
• DIA projects passenger numbers to exceed 120 million annually by 2045, boosting demand for reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity.
• Advocates highlight SMRs’ carbon-free output and advanced cooling technologies, while opponents cite nuclear waste challenges and unproven designs.