QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1. What is the Air Force building at JBSA? 
A1. The Department of the Air Force is partnering with a private company to potentially build a nuclear microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio. Microreactors are very small nuclear reactors that usually generate less than 50 megawatts-electric (MWe). They are part of a family of advanced reactor technologies that are designed to provide secure, weatherproof power strictly for critical military missions. Advanced nuclear reactors could provide safe, secure, and reliable power without a grid connection, which would allow Joint Base San Antonio to operate independently through potential disruptions.

Q2. Why does JBSA need this? 
A2. The Department of the Air Force is exploring a microreactor for Joint Base San Antonio to guarantee power for its critical missions. It would provide Joint Base San Antonio with a secure, off-grid power source to ensure its missions can continue 24/7. The Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative is a key part of a national strategy to strengthen America's energy independence and leadership in new technology.

Q3. Is this a massive nuclear power plant like we see in the movies? 
A3. No. Nuclear microreactors are nothing like the huge facility with giant cooling towers that might be in movies; they are completely different. Microreactors are very small, factory-built, and practically invisible from outside the base. They are more like a self-contained, dedicated power source for a specific community or mission. Using advanced nuclear reactor technology, microreactors are a safer, more secure, and reliable energy source.

Q4. How big is the microreactor, physically? 
A4. The microreactor is a small, factory-built unit that can be delivered by truck. Its small size allows it to be quickly installed on only a few acres of land. The microreactor’s small footprint and modular design make it an ideal solution for providing reliable power to Joint Base San Antonio while being hardly noticeable. 

Q5. Why not just use other green technologies like solar, batteries, or geothermal? 
A5. After a thorough review of alternatives, the Department of the Air Force determined a nuclear microreactor to be the most reliable and cost-effective option to guarantee power for Joint Base San Antonio during a prolonged emergency, as other technologies were found to be insufficient or too expensive.

Q6. Is it safe for the surrounding community?
A6. Yes. Nuclear energy is the safest and most tightly regulated option to generate reliable power. While every energy source has some level of risk, the safety of this technology is built directly into its physical design. Advanced nuclear microreactors are designed to be 'meltdown-proof,' designed for safety. They are built to adjust to changing conditions and continue safe operation without relying on offsite power, to automatically shut down and cool themselves without the need of any outside power or human action. Their design also allows people to work in the immediate area without risk of exposure. Our number one priority is maintaining the health and safety of the public, our servicemembers, and their families, including the environment in which they live and work.

Q7. What are the environmental effects? 
A7. During its entire operation, the microreactor produces clean, carbon-free electricity. This means it will not release any greenhouse gases or air pollutants that contribute to smog or climate change. Some of the environmental effects are:

Land Use: The physical footprint is very small. The reactor itself is about the size of a shipping container, so it only requires a few acres of land. There will be temporary disruption during construction, similar to any small building project.
Nuclear Waste: The reactor creates a very small amount of solid, spent fuel. By law, the company that owns and operates the reactor, Antares, is required to have a federally approved, start-to-finish plan to safely transport and permanently store this waste. The reactor cannot be turned on until this comprehensive plan is in place.
Water Usage: Unlike large, traditional nuclear plants, this advanced microreactor is designed to be air-cooled, meaning it won't draw water from local sources for cooling.

Before any construction can begin, a full Environmental Impact Statement must be completed under federal law. This process will involve a thorough public review to ensure all potential impacts on the local environment are identified and managed.

Q8. What happens to its nuclear waste?
A8. An advanced nuclear power microreactor produces very little spent fuel. If the Department of the Air Force decides to site a microreactor on Joint Base San Antonio, the private company that owns and operates the microreactor, Antares, will be required to safely manage all fuel for its entire lifetime. Before the microreactor can even operate, Antares must have a complete, federally approved plan for handling the very small amount of waste, from start to finish. No spent fuel will be stored in San Antonio, Texas.

Q9. San Antonio relies on the Edwards Aquifer. Will this use the local water supply? 
A9. No. A microreactor does not use water for cooling. It relies on advanced physics for cooling, making it completely independent of local water resources. 

Q10. Has the military ever done this near a city before? 
A10. Yes, it has. The U.S. military has safely built and operated compact nuclear reactors for more than 60 years with a flawless safety record. More than 550 reactors have been in military use, specifically to support nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines that are moored in densely populated cities. While that nuclear energy is used for a very different reason, the U.S. military operated a small nuclear reactor from 1957 into the 1970s very close to Washington, D.C. It was the country’s first nuclear reactor to safely provide power to the electrical grid for nearly two decades, primarily as a training facility for military nuclear operators.

Q11. Who, exactly, is building and running the nuclear microreactor? 
A11. The Department of the Air Force paired Joint Base San Antonio with the private American company, Antares Nuclear, Inc. which will own and operate the microreactor. As with all commercial nuclear energy facilities in the U.S., Antares Nuclear, Inc. must follow strict federal nuclear safety and environmental regulations and processes as part of the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act review process. This includes development and testing of detailed safety and emergency response plans, from reactor design to decommissioning. Well-trained, highly capable operators from the nuclear industry who are licensed—by either the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or U.S. Department of Energy—would run the microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative. As part of the commercial ownership-and-operation agreement between the Department of the Air Force and Antares Nuclear, Inc., the contractor-operators will complete extensive training before certification and will be required to continue training throughout the life of their license. These highly skilled, licensed reactor operators will follow detailed written procedures for the safe operation of the reactor. 

Q12. Who will regulate the safety of the microreactor? 
A12. The Department of the Air Force is coordinating with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy to evaluate the safety of the microreactor technology to ensure adherence to the strictest safety standards and that it is safe for the community. Depending on which operating licensing option the private owner-operator decides to pursue, independent federal experts from either the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the U.S. Department of Energy will require a thorough safety review of the technology before the microreactor can begin operation.

Q13. Does having a nuclear microreactor increase the chances of San Antonio becoming a target? 
A13. No. This initiative is about ensuring Joint Base San Antonio always has the power it needs for its critical national security missions. A microreactor provides a secure, on-installation energy source for Joint Base San Antonio to stay fully operational, capable of withstanding and recovering from power grid failures from natural disasters—such as Winter Storm Uri—or cyberattack. A resilient, reliable clean-energy source at Joint Base San Antonio would solidify Greater San Antonio's role as a leader in both military readiness and energy innovation.

Q14. Are City of San Antonio tax dollars paying to build this reactor?
A14. No. Local city taxes and utility bills are not funding the microreactor. The Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative is structured like a commercial business model, to protect taxpayer money. The private company, Antares Nuclear, Inc., will pay for design, licensing, and construction. Antares will compete for state grants to help fund the project. The Department of the Air Force will pay for the electricity it uses.

Q15. Will this connect to the CPS Energy grid or affect power in private residences? 
A15. No. An advanced nuclear reactor at Joint Base San Antonio would serve only the installation's critical facilities. Although the Department of the Air Force does not intend to have microreactors under this initiative provide power to the commercial grid, Joint Base San Antonio will fully and proactively engage and cooperate with CPS Energy on all required permits and agreements.

Q16. Will this create jobs or help the local economy? 
A16. Yes. A microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio, under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative, will create a demand for high-paying local jobs for both the construction and long-term operation of the reactor. Building a nuclear microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio, under this initiative, will provide a pathway and framework for scaling future energy projects in the Greater San Antonio area and beyond. It will bring new business to local companies that provide the materials and services to build and maintain the reactor, further strengthening the local economy and San Antonio’s reputation as a leader in clean-energy technology.     

Q17. When will this take place? 
A17. The Department of the Air Force announcement on April 21, 2026, was just the beginning of a multi-year process to build the microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio by 2030. The next steps are to evaluate the potential site and conduct an environmental analysis as part of the National Environmental Policy Act process, and conduct community engagement to collect public feedback before construction.

Q18. How long will this reactor be in San Antonio? 
A18. The Department of the Air Force is working with the selected vendor to build a microreactor at Joint Base San Antonio by 2030, which could be in use for up to 30 years. At the end of that contract, as with all commercial nuclear energy facilities in the United States, the selected vendor must follow strict federal nuclear safety and environmental regulations for decommissioning.

Q19. Will the public have a chance to voice concerns or ask questions? 
A19. Yes. Earning the community's trust is our top priority. Joint Base San Antonio is committed to being transparent, working closely with local and state officials, and ensuring the reactor meets all safety regulations throughout every phase from development to decommissioning.

Q20. Where can I find more information? 
A20. Now that Joint Base San Antonio is a potential site for a microreactor, the Department of the Air Force will provide regular updates and listen to the Greater San Antonio community. Joint Base San Antonio will work with local leaders to host public forums and create a clear process for you to provide feedback.
 

This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available.