Missouri Nuclear Summit’s data center projections aren’t guaranteed, experts say

Missouri recently hosted a Nuclear Summit aimed at promoting new nuclear energy projects to meet anticipated demands from expanding AI data centers. However, experts caution that while national forecasts indicate rising energy needs, the specific arrival and scale of data centers in Missouri remain uncertain. They emphasize that without guaranteed commitments from these companies, the state risks investing heavily in infrastructure that may not be fully utilized, potentially burdening residents with increased costs. Industry insiders also point to competition from other states offering better incentives and the growing trend of data centers generating their own power, further complicating Missouri’s projections.