One of the most iconic jobs in television is Homer Simpson’s role at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. The two cooling towers became an iconic part of the show, and the plant brought highly educated workers like Carl and Lenny to Springfield.

Like Springfield, Palo, Iowa, was home to the Duane Arnold Energy Center, the state’s sole nuclear power plant for nearly 50 years. But in 2020, the plant was shut down, leaving Iowa without nuclear power.

Recently, there have been calls to reopen the plant. Doing so would benefit the state by creating an often-overlooked energy source for Iowa’s growing number of data centers.

When nuclear power is first mentioned, many people think of images from disasters like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. But in reality, nuclear power is one of the safest energy sources available. Advancements in technology continue to make nuclear facilities safer and more efficient.

Nuclear energy also offers unique benefits compared to other energy sources. It produces zero emissions, helping maintain air quality. Compared to the many wind farms in Iowa, nuclear power plants take up relatively little space for. Additionally, nuclear power plants are highly reliable, operating an average of 92.3 percent of the year, or 336 days. In comparison, wind turbines operate only 34.5 percent or 127 days.

Many states rely on nuclear energy at a higher rate than people might expect. For example, our neighbor Illinois gets 54 percent of its energy from nuclear power, and 11 others derive at least 30 percent of their energy from it. But Iowa, since closing the Duane Arnold Energy Center, gets none of its energy from nuclear power.

Iowa is already unique when it comes to energy sources, with 59 percent of energy coming from wind and a significant chunk comes from solar. While nuclear power is not renewable, it is a clean energy source. Reopening the Duane Arnold Energy Center would affirm Iowa’s commitment to clean energy.

Tech companies have recently opened numerous data centers in Iowa. The state’s lack of natural disasters and its wind energy infrastructure make it an ideal location for these facilities. Adding nuclear power would provide even more energy and make Iowa an even more attractive option for investment.

One day, communities like Palo in Iowa could be like Springfield — bringing in highly educated workers and supporting clean energy initiatives. With its combination of wind and nuclear power, Iowa could lead the nation in attracting data center investments. Reopening the Duane Arnold Energy Center is the first step toward that future.