We are entering what many call the fourth industrial revolution. The first three revolutions were defined by steam, electricity and digitalization. This fourth revolution builds on digital foundations and is characterized by widespread integration of smart technologies, with artificial intelligence serving as the primary driver. If the Sierra Club had its way, this fourth industrial revolution would be stopped in its tracks because powering it simply would not be possible.
The Sierra Club made a predictable and troubling mistake when it announced its opposition to restarting the Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC), Iowa’s only nuclear power generating facility, which has been shut down since the derecho of 2020.
At its Sept. 29 online news conference, the Sierra Club’s Iowa chapter speakers trotted out tired and flawed arguments against nuclear power, revealing a troubling disconnect from energy reality.
Let’s be clear: We need more electricity generation – significantly more if current Artificial Intelligence (AI) spending continues driving data center construction.
Data centers like those being built near the Eastern Iowa Airport and the ones proposed in Palo, near the DAEC facility, demand consistent, reliable baseload energy. They cannot afford downtime, which means renewables like wind and solar simply are not viable options.
Even with battery storage, these intermittent sources cannot provide the round-the-clock reliability that modern computing infrastructure requires.
The DAEC and the nation’s other nuclear power plants have an impressive track record of reliability and safety. Like other nuclear facilities nationwide, the DAEC operated at more than 90% capacity, delivering power around the clock regardless of weather conditions. This is not theoretical — it is a proven performance record that renewables cannot match.
Environmental groups have never embraced nuclear power, and that is their problem. Instead of confronting the mathematical reality of our energy needs, they put their heads in the sand and hope renewables alone can somehow power an increasingly electrified economy. They cannot.
Yes, restarting Duane Arnold will require NextEra to invest significantly in bringing the facility back to operational status. But that investment is minuscule compared with building equivalent new capacity. The infrastructure and know-how exist. While the facility is older, it maintains an impressive maintenance record and decades of remaining operational life.
The irony is rich as environmental groups claim to prioritize climate action while opposing the only proven technology that delivers massive carbon-free electricity continuously. Across America, this attitude is changing. Michigan is restarting Palisades. Tech companies are signing deals to power data centers with nuclear energy. Nations worldwide are reversing premature reactor closures.
The Sierra Club can cling to outdated opposition, but Iowa’s economic future and America’s technological leadership depend on reliable power. Duane Arnold represents both. It is time to move past ideological objections and embrace energy reality.
The fourth industrial revolution is coming. Iowa should power it, not obstruct it.
