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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2427 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for August 23, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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There of course is an obvious solution to this, but I am not sure we're allowed yet to say it aloud. It beings with "nu"...

Unfortunately nuclear power (which IMO should have been built massively more worldwide) is not a solution because building a plant and getting it fully operable takes so many years.

I've read SMRs can be built with as little as 3 years. That seems to be a reasonable timeframe.

Is that "can be built, tested, certified and be fully ready for commercial operation in three years at some future point when the design has become commonplace and any kinks of practical implementations have been worked out" or "can be ready for use in three years starting right now"?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love SMRs to become common but currently building nuclear power has so many steps and hurdles on the way (that are in no way related to the fundamental reactor technology) that I don't see it being a short term solution for the current upcoming datacenter powering issues.

I guess the question is - is this data center thing a fad that will be gone in 5 years, or a long term trend, where a long-term investment would make sense?

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