AES Indiana to Study Small Modular Reactors at Two Plants

AES Indiana told energy leaders at Purdue University on November 5 and 6, 2025 that it will undertake a formal feasibility study into siting small modular reactors at its Eagle Valley and Petersburg power plants. The study will examine licensing paths, siting factors such as water availability for cooling and population distribution, transmission capacity, and emergency planning. AES Indiana plans to deliver the study results by mid 2026, and the announcement came during Purdue s Global Nuclear Energy Economic Summit where state and academic officials outlined next steps for advanced nuclear technology.

Indiana Energy and Natural Resources Secretary Suzanne Jaworowski, AES Indiana President Brandi Davis Handy, and Purdue President Mung Chiang were among the participants who discussed the project s potential. Purdue also used the summit to launch its Institute for Energy Innovation and to introduce the first online credential program in small modular reactors, signaling an emphasis on workforce and technical training alongside industry planning.

For Dubois County residents the immediate impact is indirect but potentially significant. If the feasibility study moves the project forward, construction and longer term operations could create demand for skilled trades, technicians trained in nuclear operations, and expanded transmission and water management work across the region. Conversely, the Boston University study cited at the summit provides a cautionary context by documenting cost overruns and time delays in previous nuclear projects, underscoring financial and schedule risks that local governments and utilities will need to weigh.

The technical focus of the study reflects broader policy and market considerations. Licensing will determine regulatory timelines and requirements that affect cost and project duration. Siting analysis that includes water availability for cooling is material for plant selection, because adequate cooling resources are essential to reactor operation and emergency planning. Transmission capacity assessments will affect how reliably additional generation could serve growing electricity demand in southwestern Indiana and neighboring markets.

Supply chain and fuel challenges were also highlighted during the summit, reflecting industry concerns that procurement bottlenecks and workforce shortages could slow deployment. Purdue s credential offering aims to address workforce constraints by preparing workers for SMR technology, but the timeline for new training pipelines to affect local hiring will likely extend beyond the study s mid 2026 deadline.

Local officials and residents should expect further public engagement if AES Indiana s study identifies one or both sites as viable. Key metrics to watch include the study s assessment of population distribution for emergency planning, projected construction employment and operations staffing levels, projected timelines, and any estimated cost ranges or financing approaches. The feasibility study will frame subsequent permitting and public review processes that could directly affect Dubois County s economy and infrastructure planning in the years ahead.