BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) — A Brazos Valley council is talking about generating power at Texas A&M’s RELLIS campus.

Intergovernmental cooperation committee Brazos Valley Council of Government (BVCOG) is an operation where agencies can come together to discuss ideas and break news of what’s happening within the community.

At its meeting on Monday, members heard from Texas A&M Vice Chancellor for Research Joe Elabd. Elabd spoke on power generation via small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors. Don’t think big concrete silos. In fact, some can be small enough to fit on the back of a trailer.

Elabd said SMRs could have a huge impact not only on the Brazos valley, but for the entire state as well. By 2030, Texas is expected to almost double its power usage. These reactors could offer the Brazos valley some relief during hot summer months and the cold.

“The more sources of electricity- that would really have an impact on not only your bottom line, your bill- but it would also really meet a demand so that our demand does not outpace our supply right now,” said Elabd.

Bringing nuclear energy to the Brazos Valley has the potential to create more than just power.

Councilman Bob Yancy said the RELLIS campus expansion with small modular reactors could also create permanent jobs, “We’re looking at 5,000 jobs just as a result of the SMR initiative and that’s before we talk about things like semiconductors, etcetera.”

Elabd told KBTX, as more engineering jobs come to the area, Texas A&M has created resources to increase regional education.

“A lot of certificate courses and training, particularly in the workforce development area,” Elabd explained the developing resources. “We are working with each company that comes to this region to develop courses to help upscale them for jobs in that specific sector.”

On Tuesday, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will be meeting to authorize the purchase of approximately 868 acres of land adjacent to the RELLIS Campus.

BVCOG’s next meeting is on Friday, May 16.

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