Google’s plan to revive iowa nuclear plant raises storm safety concerns in tornado alley

Google’s ambitious plan to restart Iowa’s shuttered Duane Arnold nuclear power plant to fuel its data centers is sparking serious questions about nuclear safety in one of America’s most weather-volatile regions. The facility was permanently closed in 2020 after a devastating derecho—a powerful windstorm with hurricane-force gusts—caused extensive damage to the reactor’s infrastructure and surrounding electrical grid.

Diana Lokenvitz, a senior systems engineer who witnessed the 2020 storm, described the terrifying moment when the derecho struck. “It was like it was pitch black night,” she recalled, watching as a massive wall of clouds engulfed Palo, Iowa, in complete darkness within seconds. The storm’s destructive winds ultimately forced the premature shutdown of Iowa’s only nuclear facility, marking the end of decades of nuclear power generation in the state.

Now, as Google seeks to restart the plant to meet the enormous energy demands of its nearby data centers, safety experts are raising critical concerns about operating nuclear infrastructure in Tornado Alley. The region experiences some of the most extreme weather events in the United States, including tornadoes, derechoes, and severe thunderstorms that can produce damaging winds exceeding 100 mph.

The debate highlights a growing tension between the tech industry’s massive energy needs and the challenges of maintaining nuclear safety in climatically unstable regions. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense due to climate change, the decision to revive nuclear operations in tornado-prone areas represents a significant test case for the future of nuclear power in America’s heartland.