Fermi America and the Texas Tech University System have named two seasoned nuclear industry leaders to spearhead the nuclear development of a massive advanced energy and artificial intelligence campus planned for Amarillo, in what could become one of the largest combined energy and computing projects in the world.
The Aug. 12 announcement introduced Mesut Uzman as chief nuclear officer and Sezin Uzman as vice president of nuclear supply chain and compliance. The company said these appointments mark a major step in advancing the $13 billion project, which will combine nuclear, natural gas, solar, battery storage, and grid-supplied electricity into a single high-capacity facility.
According to Fermi America, the planned campus could reach up to 11 gigawatts of total generation capacity—enough to power millions of homes—with about half of that coming from advanced nuclear reactors. The remainder would be produced from gas-fired units, renewable sources, and energy storage systems.
Near-Term and Long-Term Energy Goals
Fermi intends to deliver its first 1 gigawatt of power for AI operations by the end of 2026, relying initially on natural gas and renewables. Nuclear production is expected to follow several years later, with initial reactors coming online in 2032—pending approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The company’s Combined License application for new reactors was formally accepted for review by the NRC on June 18, a milestone that begins a multi-year regulatory process.
The nuclear portion of the project will use the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design, a proven technology that has already been deployed domestically and abroad. However, the AP1000’s U.S. track record is mixed. Its most high-profile U.S. deployment—at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle—was completed years late and billions over budget, underscoring the challenges of large-scale nuclear construction in the United States.
Despite those challenges, Fermi America co-founder and former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said nuclear will be central to the Amarillo project’s clean energy goals. “Six of the projected 11 gigawatts of clean energy at our Amarillo campus are expected to come from advanced, clean, new nuclear generation, making these some of our most critical hires,” Perry said.
Co-founder Toby Neugebauer added that the Uzmans’ international track record could help the project avoid the kinds of delays and cost overruns that have plagued past U.S. nuclear projects.
Leadership with Global Experience
Mesut Uzman has held senior roles in the design, construction, and commissioning of nuclear plants across the globe. His career includes leadership positions at Westinghouse, Invensys, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation. He has been involved in the deployment of 16 reactors worldwide, including the four-unit Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates—one of the most significant nuclear projects built in recent decades.
Sezin Uzman’s career spans leadership posts at Westinghouse, Invensys, ENEC, Nawah Energy Company, and Accelerant Solutions. She oversaw regulatory coordination and supply chain operations during Barakah’s startup and has been recognized for promoting operational efficiency and advancing women’s leadership in the nuclear sector.
State Support for Nuclear Growth
The Amarillo development comes as Texas is positioning itself as a potential leader in advanced nuclear power. In early 2025, state lawmakers passed House Bill 14, creating a $350 million grant program to support nuclear development. Administered by the newly established Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office under the governor, the program aims to help companies offset the high costs of permitting, licensing, and construction.
Funding from the program is performance-based: companies must hit specific milestones to receive disbursements, and state leaders retain the right to halt payments if those benchmarks are not met.
The legislation also instructs the Texas Workforce Commission to develop specialized training programs in partnership with colleges and industry. These programs are intended to prepare workers for roles in reactor operations, nuclear welding, and other specialized skills that will be in high demand as nuclear projects scale up.
Supporters of the bill argue that coupling financial incentives with workforce development could address two of the biggest barriers to new nuclear projects: a shortage of skilled labor and regulatory bottlenecks.
Challenges and Risks
While the promise of advanced nuclear power is significant—offering reliable, carbon-free electricity for decades—industry history shows the road to completion is rarely smooth. Building a nuclear plant in the United States can take a decade or more from the licensing phase to commercial operation. Globally, construction typically takes six to nine years, but U.S. projects often face longer timelines.
A 2024 analysis by ABC News Australia’s fact-check unit found that the three most recent U.S. reactors averaged over 20 years from initial planning to completion. Such delays not only postpone the delivery of power but also drive up financing costs, erode investor confidence, and can strain public support.
By selecting experienced executives with a proven history of delivering complex projects on schedule, Fermi America is signaling that it intends to address these challenges directly.
Part of a Larger Energy Shift
The project’s design reflects a growing trend in the U.S. energy sector: pairing large-scale power generation with data infrastructure to meet the rapidly rising electricity needs of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other high-performance technologies.
Some estimates suggest that AI-related electricity demand could grow to 80 gigawatts nationwide by 2030—a massive increase that will require significant investment in new generation. Texas already leads the nation in wind power, is rapidly expanding its solar capacity, and is now moving to diversify with nuclear to ensure grid reliability in the face of extreme weather and rising demand.
By combining nuclear with flexible resources like natural gas and battery storage, the Amarillo campus is designed to deliver both steady baseload power and the quick-response capabilities needed to support intermittent renewable energy sources.
A Long Road Ahead
Even with state support, experienced leadership, and a diversified energy mix, the Amarillo project will face hurdles. The NRC’s review process is rigorous and can span several years, with potential for extended public comment periods and environmental assessments. Supply chain constraints, inflationary pressures, and workforce availability could also influence the timeline and cost.
However, Texas policymakers appear committed to positioning the state at the forefront of the nuclear resurgence. The combination of financial incentives, regulatory support, and workforce initiatives is intended to create a business environment where large-scale nuclear projects can be built more efficiently than in the past.
If Fermi America can meet its projected milestones, the Amarillo campus could become a flagship for advanced energy development—not just in Texas, but globally. Six gigawatts of nuclear capacity alone would make it one of the largest concentrations of civilian nuclear power in the United States.
Conclusion
For now, Fermi America’s announcement marks the beginning of what could be a transformative decade for energy in Texas. With the Uzmans leading the nuclear side of the project, the company is betting that international experience, careful planning, and state-backed incentives will enable it to deliver on a vision that blends clean energy with the computing infrastructure of the future.
If successful, Amarillo could become a global showcase for how nuclear power, renewables, and advanced technology can work together to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable, carbon-free electricity. But the true test will come not in press releases, but in whether the project reaches its ambitious goals on schedule and within budget.
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