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Cooling towers at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The owner of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant is embarking on an ambitious plan to restart operations before the end of the decade, marking the latest chapter in the history of a plant that symbolizes the future promise, past struggles and lingering fears of nuclear energy in the United States.

The twin cooling towers that stretch hundreds of feet above the Susquehanna River just south of Middletown, Pennsylvania, went dormant in 2019 after billowing water vapor into the sky for four decades. Its owner at the time, Exelon, permanently shut down the Unit 1 reactor, citing “severe economic challenges.”

Unit 1 is one of a dozen reactors that closed in the U.S. over the past decade as nuclear industry struggled to compete against cheap and abundant natural gas. But the fortunes of the industry have shifted dramatically this year as deep-pocketed technology companies turn to nuclear power to meet the tremendous electricity consumption of their future business: artificial intelligence.

Constellation Energy, the plant’s current owner, plans to restart Unit 1 in 2028, subject to monitoring and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Constellation, headquartered in Baltimore, spun off from Exelon in 2022; it has the nation’s largest fleet, or group, of nuclear power plants, operating 21 of the 94 reactors in the U.S.

“This is a plant that we ran and ran very well,” plant manager Trevor Orth told the NRC at an Oct. 25 meeting. “We shut it down. We understand how we shut it down, and we have a good idea of how we’re going to restart this.”

The main control room of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

While Constellation will restore the plant, it will ditch the name Three Mile Island. The plant will be rechristened the Crane Clean Energy Center, after the late CEO of Exelon, Chris Crane. Constellation said the restart will cost $1.6 billion, financed by the company’s own funds.

(Take a deeper look inside the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant here.)

Microsoft has made the restart of Unit 1 possible through an agreement to purchase the full electricity output from the plant for 20 years, a sign of the growing role the tech sector is playing in shaping the future of the U.S. power industry.

Microsoft said the agreement is part of its strategy of meeting the growing electricity needs of its data centers with power that is free of carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to mitigate the impact of its business on the climate.

Part of a control panel at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

Those data centers are playing a critical role in the U.S. economy, housing servers that run the cloud computing that businesses and consumers now rely on for life’s digital daily tasks. They are also essential for the development of artificial intelligence, technology that is viewed as critical for the nation’s future economic competitiveness and national security.

With four years until the planned restart, one of the big uncertainties is whether Constellation can deliver the power to Microsoft on time. Nuclear projects are notoriously plagued by long delays, big cost overruns and cancellations. But Unit 1 is in good condition and Constellation is confident the plant will restart on schedule, said Bryan Hanson, the company’s chief generation officer.

Most of the restoration at Unit 1 will be normal maintenance work that Constellation conducts regularly on its fleet of nuclear plants, Hanson said during an Oct. 30 tour of the plant.

“Not an ounce of concrete needs to be poured, not one piece of rebar needs to be tied, not one cable needs to be pulled. The infrastructure is here,” the executive said. “The challenge of delays — I don’t see it.”

A control panel in the main control room of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

Constellation’s decision to restart Three Mile Island follows Holtec International’s decision to restart its Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan. Palisades is poised to become the first reactor to restart operations in U.S. history in 2025 after shutting down.

Holtec has plans to nearly double the power capacity of the facility in the 2030s by building two small modular reactors, next-generation technology that promises to make nuclear plants less costly and easier to deploy.

Amazon and Alphabet’s Google recently announced investments in small modular reactors.

While Constellation has not committed to building a small modular reactor at any of its plants yet, Hanson said the company is open to working with the tech sector to build new nuclear reactors in the U.S.

“If our customers come to us again, like a Microsoft, and say ‘we want to help you build new nuclear’ — we’ll probably join hands and figure out a way to do that,” Hanson said.

Lingering fears

Unit 1 is a short walk from the site of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history.

The partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island in 1979 had a chilling effect on the development of new nuclear plants in the U.S. Unit 2 has not operated since the accident and is being decommissioned by its current owner, Energy Solutions, a private nuclear services company.

Unit 1 operated safely and efficiently before it was shut down for economic reasons, said Mike Goff, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy.

But Pennsylvania state Rep. Thomas Mehaffie said his constituents have mixed feelings about the restart of Unit 1, particularly those who are old enough to remember the accident at Unit 2.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Tom Mehaffie speaks in front of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

“Of course people who were here during that time frame, who are older — there is concern. There always has been concern,” said Mehaffie, who represents the communities around Three Mile Island at the state legislature in Harrisburg. Mehaffie’s father was a union electrician who helped build the nuclear plants.

Hanson said the nuclear industry has learned from this chapter of its history.

“The 1979 accident taught us that our standards weren’t right at the time,” Hanson said. The U.S. nuclear industry today has the best safety, reliability and operational standards in the world, he said.

While some constituents have concerns, others see the economic value that the restart will bring, Mehaffie said. The restart of Unit 1 will bring an estimated 3,400 jobs to the region, according to a study by the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council.  

Grid reliability

The planned restart of Three Mile Island is also a step to help ensure the region’s electric grid remains reliable, Mehaffie said. Unit 1 will bring back 835 megawatts of carbon-free electricity, equivalent to the consumption of more than 600,000 homes, at a time when the grid is on the brink of faltering.

Electricity demand is outpacing supply, as power plants, particularly those that run on coal, are retired faster than new capacity is built, grid operator PJM Interconnection warned in July. PJM operates the grid in Pennsylvania and 12 other states.

“Grid reliability is everything,” Mehaffie said.

PJM has forecast that electricity demand will surge nearly 40% by 2039 due to the expansion of data centers, manufacturing and the electrification of industry and transportation. Meanwhile, 40 gigawatts of power generation is at risk of retirement by 2030; that’s about 21% of PJM’s installed capacity.

“We’re seeing potentially catastrophic early retirements of dispatchable resources,” Mark Christie, a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said during a public hearing Nov. 1.

A cooling tower at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

Federal energy regulators are worried that tech companies’ pursuit of deals that redirect power from the electric grid directly to their data centers could exacerbate supply shortages and threaten grid stability.

Microsoft said the electricity it will be purchasing from Unit 1 will feed into the grid and will not directly power its data centers. Microsoft is committed to bolstering the grid as it secures power for its data centers, said Alistair Speirs, senior director of global infrastructure for Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.

“When we operate in the community, if we’re not stabilizing, adding resiliency to the grid, then it’s hard for us to keep our social license to operate,” Speirs said.

Microsoft is not involved in the physical restoration of the plant, Hanson said, but Constellation is providing status reports to the company.

Restoration and restart timeline

Constellation laid out how it plans to restart the plant in the company’s first public meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Oct. 25. While Wall Street is generally bullish on the restart, Citi has cautioned that Constellation could face challenges in completing the project on schedule.

“Given the regulatory and physical challenges, we assume that [Constellation] is likely to experience some delays and cost overruns to execute on the restart,” Citi analyst Ryan Levine told clients in an Oct. 14 note.

Citi initiated coverage of Constellation with a neutral rating in October on delay concerns. Constellation’s stock has gained more than 90% since the start of the year and 12% since the Three Mile Island restart was announced Sept. 20.

Levine is an outlier. The vast majority of analysts rate the stock a buy or strong buy, with the average price target predicting more than 23% upside.

The turbine deck of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

Hanson said crucial and expensive equipment such as the steam generators and main power generator have undergone inspection and maintenance by Constellation and are in good condition.

The steam generators were replaced in 2009 and are ready for restart, he said. The internals of the main power generator, built by General Electric nearly 50 years ago, were replaced a little over a decade ago, he said. The main generator has been cleaned and needs some routine maintenance, he said.

The plant’s main power transformers need to be replaced at a cost of $75 million to $100 million, Hanson said. The transformers are on order with delivery expected in late 2026, he said.

One of the cooling towers has been gutted and will be refurbished. The analog control room will remain the same with the exception of some rewiring, Hanson said.

The simulator that mimics the control room also needs to be restored so plant operators can be trained there. One of the most critical items for restoring plant operations is training operators for NRC certification, a process that takes about 18 months, Hanson said.

The turbine deck of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Oct. 30, 2024.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

Constellation is currently prohibited from operating and loading fuel into the reactor vessel because the plant was permanently shut down. Constellation plans to file an exemption request in November that would remove these restrictions if approved by the NRC.

“That will officially mark the start of our restart activities,” Dennis Moore, senior manager of licensing at Constellation, told the NRC.

Constellation plans to file a request to change the plant’s name from Three Mile Island to the Crane Clean Energy Center in February. Later in 2025, Constellation will submit filings on the plant’s technical specifications, environmental impact, emergency plan, and site security plan for NRC review, the company said.

Constellation intends to send an operational readiness letter to the NRC by July 2027. The company would then begin testing and return to power if the NRC determines that the plant is ready to operate and authorizes placing fuel in the reactor.

In the meantime, Constellation does not need NRC permission to “start turning wrenches and doing restoration work” at the plant, said Scott Burnell, a spokesperson for the regulator. The NRC will be monitoring the work to make sure the regulator’s requirements are met, Burnell said.

The restarts at Three Mile Island and Palisades will likely secure NRC approval, Goff said.

“They are an independent agency, but I expect if the safety cases are presented, they’re going to approve it,” Goff told CNBC in September.

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Jackery’s new Explorer 240D power station gets first savings from $139, Hiboy launches EX9 urban commuter e-bike at $800 off, more

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September 24, 2025

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Jackery's new Explorer 240D power station gets first savings from 9, Hiboy launches EX9 urban commuter e-bike at 0 off, more

We’ve got two new releases leading today’s Green Deals, starting with Jackery’s new Explorer 240D Portable Power Station and bundles, which seems to be replacing the discontinued Explorer 100 Plus, getting its first savings starting from $139. Right behind it is Hiboy’s new EX9 Urban Commuter e-bike launching with $800 savings at $1,200, as well as Ride1Up’s End of Summer Sale lineup that has dropped the Prodigy V2 9-Speed Mid-Drive e-bike to a new $1,895 annual low, among others. We also have Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 station undercutting its Early Prime Day pricing and getting a FREE solar panel bundle, one-day-only sales on Anker SOLIX and Greenworks combo kits, and more waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Jackery Early Prime Day Sale lineup, EcoFlow’s latest 48-hour flash sale (ending tonight), and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Jackery launches its new compact Explorer 240D 256Wh power station at Amazon with first savings from $139

Running alongside its Early Prime Day Sale, Jackery has launched its newest backup power solution, and this one is not only coming in a more compact form factor to replace the discontinued Explorer 100 Plus, but its also seeing its first savings coming from Amazon. You can now pick up the Jackery Explorer 240D Portable Power Station at $139 shipped, which beats out the brand’s direct pricing (though it is stated on the landing page that it’s not yet available to buy), where it’s still sitting/starting at its full $209 rate. While this initial launch discount continues, you can be some of the first to score one for your on-the-go charging needs with a 33% markdown that cuts $70 off the going rate and sets the bar for future discounts. Head below for more on this and its bundle options.

I, like many, was very upset to see Jackery’s Explorer 100 Plus disappear from markets, but today the brand is giving us the official replacement in the form of its new Explorer 240D power station. This new compact solution brings along a 256Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity (69,189.19mAh) that significantly beats many power banks and other compact power stations on the market, alongside four output port options for your devices: three USB-Cs and a solo USB-A. You’ll be getting up to 200W of power through those ports, with the brand even rating this model to last for a minimum of 6,000 charge cycles, meaning you’ll get over 16 years of use, even when using it every single day.

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The Jackery Explorer 240D station also comes with more recharging options than the Explorer 100 Plus, as you can plug it into a typical AC outlet, with a dual AC and DC option for faster rates, as well as using a solar panel, or your car’s auxiliary port as you drive. It weighs in at just 6.9 pounds, though sadly cannot accompany you on planes due to it exceeding the 100Wh limit from airlines.

Jackery’s Explorer 240D power station launch deals:

If you want a similar compact power companion like the Jackery Explorer 240D station, but want to save a bit more, Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Station is currently down at $80. Jackery is one of two power station brands that have already launched its Early Prime Day Sale promotions leading up to next month’s two-day event, with up to 65% discounts, free gifts, bonus savings, and more – all starting from $129.

two men riding Hiboy's EX9 urban commuter e-bike down street

Hiboy launches new EX9 urban commuter e-bike with dual-sided torque sensors and 62-mile range at $1,200

Running alongside its ongoing Fall EV Sale, Hiboy has launched the latest of its commuting solutions with a significant discount. You can now hop aboard Hiboy’s new EX9 Urban Commuter e-bike for $1,199.98 shipped, after using the promo code DAB1 at checkout for additional savings, which sadly does not stack with the Fall Sale codes. This new model will be fetching $2,000 without the launch discounts we’re seeing here for the moment, which has been cut down to $1,300, with the promo code providing an additional $100 cut to the tag for $800 in total savings. This is quite the deal to receive right out of the gate and sets the bar for future discounts down the road.

If you want to learn more about this all-new commuting solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this launch deal here.

man riding Ride1Up Prodigy V2 e-bike down street

Ride1Up’s latest sale drops the Prodigy V2 9-speed mid-drive e-bike to a new $1,895 annual low, more

Ride1Up currently has an End of Summer Sale running and taking up to $600 off a selection of e-bikes, with increased savings on the Prodigy V2 Brose Mid-Drive 9-Speed e-bike for $1,895 shipped, while the Prodigy V2 belt-drive e-bike is back down at $2,595 shipped, as it’s been throughout most of the brand’s recent events. Normally, the chain-drive model goes for $2,495 in full, while the belt-drive counterpart sits higher at $2,795. We’ve seen discounts over 2025 take these rates as low as $1,995 and $2,595. While the belt-drive model is taking another lap around at the usual annual low, savings have increased on the chain-drive model to $600, landing it at the best price we have tracked all year.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike, or the other models seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station on table in forest powering toaster oven and drone

Jackery undercuts sale pricing on its Explorer 1000 v2 station at Amazon for $429 + get a FREE 100W solar panel ($1,098 value)

Jackery’s official Amazon storefront is undercutting the brand’s current direct Early Prime Day Sale pricing on its Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station for $429 shipped, which is also eligible for a FREE 100W solar panel ($299 value), while the solo station sits $20 higher as part of the sale and the only solar bundle (200W) would run you $649 at the moment. During this period, the price is coming down from its usual $799 full rate, which only fell as low as $449 until July, when the 4-day Prime event gave us the first and only drop to its $399 low. This is the next-best price you can pick it up at, with $370 being cut from the tag, though, if you’re hoping to pick it up with bundled gear, it’s better to instead shop the Early Prime Day Sale here.

If you want to learn more about this station’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and woman running on beach towards water behind Anker SOLIX C1000X power station

Anker’s SOLIX C1000X black power station with a book-sized 100W solar panel back at its $649 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Anker SOLIX C1000X Portable Power Station with 100W “book-sized” solar panel at $649 shipped, which differs in its black colorway from the usual grey model featured at Amazon and the brand’s direct website. While picking up the standard station with a 100W panel would normally cost you up to $1,328, this colorway with the “book-sized” panel has only been seen once before in these one-day-only sales, having fallen to this same rate for the first time in late August, which remains the lowest we have tracked. For the rest of the day only, you can take advantage of the 28% markdown for $250 in savings. You could also go bigger with the solar capabilities with this bundle of the C1000 and a 200W solar panel down at $699.99 shipped right now, which has a total $799 value that you’re getting for just $51 more.

If you want to learn more about this station, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

greenworks 80V 21-inch mower, 13-inch string trimmer, and 730 CFM blower combo

Cover yard upkeep with this 80V Greenworks mower, trimmer, and blower combo at $580 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 80V 21-inch Lawn Mower, 13-inch String Trimmer, and 730 Leaf Blower Combo for $579.99 shipped, which is difficult to find this exact combination of tools elsewhere, with the closest match at Amazon being this less advanced 3-tool package that is currently sitting at $560. You’d have to pay $1,100 for this bundle at full price, which we’ve seen fall as low as $550 back in July. For the rest of the day, you can score it with $520 in savings at the fourth-lowest price we have tracked – just $30 above July’s low and the best price we’ve seen appear since.

If you want to learn more about this 3-tool combo, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

man sitting on Rad Power's RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Environment

Lucid (LCID) ramps up Gravity production, massive numbers spotted in drone flyover

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September 24, 2025

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Lucid (LCID) ramps up Gravity production, massive numbers spotted in drone flyover

Lucid Gravity factory drone flyover

Lucid (LCID) appears to be successfully ramping up Gravity production, as a large number of electric SUVs have been spotted exiting its Arizona factory in a new drone flyover.

The Gravity is a big step forward for Lucid. The automaker has proven its capacity to produce a super-powerful and efficient powertrain with the Air, but it is a luxury sedan, which is hardly a popular segment in the US, where the company is based.

Lucid used its learnings from the Air to launch the Gravity, an electric SUV, which is a much more popular vehicle segment in North America.

There has been considerable confusion about the Gravity ramp-up. The vehicle has been undoubtedly positively reviewed by the industry, but the rollout has been questioned.

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Recently, a news report claimed that Lucid only sold nine Gravity SUVs in its first six months on the market.

Nick Twork, Lucid’s head of communication, quickly shut down the report without confirming the actual number of Gravity delivered to customers.

While there’s no doubt that Lucid delivered more than nine Gravity SUVs, it’s true that the automaker has had issues ramping up production. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, confirmed as much during the last earnings call.

Some have recently attempted to link Gravity’s issues with demand rather than production, citing Lucid’s listing of some units in inventory. However, this was also confirmed to be false, as Lucid clarified that it was simply listing batched production units, which sold out within a day.

Now, we finally get some clear evidence that Lucid is ramping up Gravity production, thanks to a new drone flyover of the factory in Arizona:

The drone flyover took place on Monday, September 22nd, 2025, and it shows a large number of Gravity electric SUVs in lots being prepared for shipping.

There appear to be more Gravity units than Air’s and there are hundreds of Gravity SUVs – possibly even over a thousand:

Winterhoff said yesterday that Lucid will cover the federal tax credit until the end of the year, in case the automaker can’t deliver by the end of September.


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The Acura ZDX electric SUV is dead before it ever had a chance

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September 24, 2025

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The Acura ZDX electric SUV is dead before it ever had a chance

Acura-ZDX-dead

The Acura ZDX is officially dead. Acura’s sole electric SUV will not return for another model year. Despite better-than-expected sales, Acura is preparing for a new EV.

The ZDX is dead as Acura bets on the RSX and hybrids

Honda confirmed plans to end production of the Acura ZDX on Wednesday. Acura’s electric SUV is assembled by GM at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant.

It’s also based on the same Ultium EV platform that powers all Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac electric models. GM was slated to begin building the 2026 model year later this month, but that will no longer be the case.

A note sent to plant workers said Honda “has decided to cancel all future production” of the Acura ZDX. A Honda spokesperson confirmed the plans to CNBC, saying the move was due to changing market conditions.

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“To better align our product portfolio with the needs of our customers and market conditions, as well as our long-term strategic goals, we can confirm the Acura ZDX has ended production,” the spokesperson said in an email to CNBC.

Acura-ZDX-dead
The 2024 Acura ZDX (Source: Acura

The Honda Prologue, another GM-based electric SUV, will return for a 2026 model year. Honda’s spokesperson confirmed that the Prologue will continue to be produced at GM’s plant in Mexico.

Acura is shifting its focus to its sporty new electric SUV, the RSX, which will be manufactured at Honda’s EV Hub in Ohio, starting in the second half of 2026. The luxury brand also plans to reintroduce hybrids, but no specifics have been revealed.

Acura-ZDX-EV-dead
Acura ZDX at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Honda)

The changes will not impact workers’ employment at the facility, according to GM’s memo. It will add additional gas-powered Chevy Blazer production and engines, starting in 2027.

Electrek’s Take

Honda’s decision to discontinue the ZDX is not a huge surprise. Although sales were higher than expected, outselling the Cadillac Lyriq in the first half of 2025, Honda is preparing for a new generation of vehicles, starting with the new Acura RSX.

The 2026 Acura RSX will be the first vehicle to debut on Honda’s in-house EV platform. It will also be the first model to feature Acura’s ASIMO OS, promising to be an advanced AI-based system that will control all infotainment, ADAS, and other connected features.

Honda says the RSX will be a “Software Defined Vehicle,” which will get smarter and more advanced over time through over-the-air (OTA) updates.

With the $7,500 EV tax credit ending this month, Honda is offering a few discounts that are hard to beat, including over $20,000 off the Prologue. The Acura ZDX has nearly $30,000 in savings, but that’s if you can find one. You can use our links below to view inventory in your area.


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