Two American energy companies are each preparing to bring a nuclear power station back into service, an unprecedented operation which should help meet the growing need for electricity in the United States.

A plan by Microsoft to use the restart of a Three Mile Island nuclear reactor to help power its expanding data centers reflects the tech industry's hopes nuclear energy can be a quick and climate-friendly answer to its massive electricity needs.

The Constellation Energy Corporation announced its plan to restart the Unit 1 nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island as part of a purchase agreement with Microsoft. Five years ago today, TMI shut down Unit 1,