Trump announces new nuclear power policy: launching construction of 10 large-scale nuclear power plants before 2030

The Trump administration has just ignited a new engine for America’s nuclear power industry. Through four executive orders, the White House plans to launch construction of 10 large-scale nuclear power plants by 2030 and quadruple U.S. nuclear generating capacity by 2050. According to media reports on the 24th, Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing the Department of Energy to facilitate the commencement of construction for 10 large reactors by 2030 and to provide financing support for power upgrades at existing reactors. In its accompanying fact sheet, the White House bluntly criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for fostering an 'excessive risk-aversion culture' and demanded that nuclear facility emissions be reduced below naturally occurring levels. Even more aggressively, the new executive order sets an 18-month deadline for the NRC to approve new reactor designs, while also urging the Departments of Energy and Defense to streamline development and deployment of advanced reactors. Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, declared this initiative would launch an "American nuclear renaissance," stating, "America’s great innovators and entrepreneurs have faced numerous obstacles in nuclear technology." Billions of dollars in investment uncertainty Following the announcement, market reactions were swift—and sharply divided. Oklo, a small modular reactor (SMR) developer backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, saw its stock surge 23%; NuScale—another SMR designer—rose 19.4%. Centrus Energy, a nuclear fuel company, jumped 21.6%, while Cameco, the world’s largest publicly traded uranium company, gained 11.1%. In contrast, shares of large utility-owned nuclear operators rose only modestly—Constellation Energy up just 2.1%, Dominion Energy up 1.1%—suggesting investor caution toward traditional nuclear giants. Although industry players welcomed government support, skepticism remains strong. A media report quoted an industry insider saying: "How can you plan and finance a multi-billion-dollar project when you don’t know how long the tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, tariffs, or today’s Trump-signed policies will last?"

Developments and prospects of the Trump administration’s 'Nuclear Energy Renaissance' strategy

Recently, I conducted an in-depth examination of the prospects for America’s nuclear energy renaissance—and discovered a complex, grand strategic vision behind it. The Trump administration’s so-called 'American nuclear energy renaissance' initiative appears, on the surface, aimed at boosting domestic self-sufficiency in nuclear fuel. In reality, however, it is tightly interwoven with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), even serving as a cornerstone of U.S. technological and economic development over the coming decades. First, let’s examine the real challenges confronting America’s nuclear energy sector. Nearly all uranium required to sustain U.S. nuclear operations must be imported—with a substantial portion sourced from Russia, a strategic competitor. This creates serious vulnerabilities in America’s nuclear fuel supply chain. Recognizing this, the Trump administration placed supply-chain autonomy and resilience at the very core of its nuclear policy. To achieve its goal of over 90% domestic self-sufficiency in fuel for both civilian and defense reactors by 2030, the U.S. government aims to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel-cycle capabilities and enhance overall supply-chain resilience. Specific measures include expanding domestic uranium mining and processing capacity, establishing a U.S.-based nuclear industrial alliance covering the full lifecycle—from uranium mining and fuel fabrication to reactor use and post-use fuel recycling and safe disposal. Yet achieving this goal is no simple task. Amid deepening U.S. manufacturing hollowing-out, even generous federal subsidies may not enable American firms operating in these sectors to deliver rapid results. Thus, this is a long-term, arduous undertaking requiring steady, sustained progress. Meanwhile, the United States is vigorously advancing the deployment of modular, small-scale reactors. If high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) is judiciously adopted as fuel for such reactors, their physical footprint can be further reduced, their fuel burnup efficiency improved, and refueling intervals extended. After thorough risk assessment, the U.S. government has boldly authorized nuclear power companies deploying small reactors to use HALEU. The Trump administration contends that the 1977 ban on commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the United States was the primary cause of the dramatic contraction of America’s nuclear fuel supply chain—ultimately forcing U.S. reactors to rely almost entirely on imported fuel and thereby threatening national security. Additionally, the U.S. government has directed the Department of Energy to convert 34 tons of excess weapons-grade uranium from the U.S. nuclear arsenal into highly efficient mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for use in commercial nuclear power plants. This measure not only helps address nuclear waste management but also provides a stable fuel supply for the nuclear power market. Yet beneath all this lies an even larger driving force—artificial intelligence. According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report, reliable and sustainable electricity supply is a critical enabler of AI development. Data show that global data center electricity demand is projected to reach 945 terawatt-hours by 2030—more than double current levels—with AI being the single largest driver. To further cement America’s global leadership in AI, Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office designating AI research and deployment as a top national strategic priority.

Trump-Backed Nuclear Plant Settles Cancer, Contamination Lawsuits

16 hours ago

Solstice Advanced Materials agreed to pay $80 million to settle lawsuits alleging radiation exposure caused cancer near its uranium conversion plant. The settlement comes as the company plans to expand production of uranium hexafluoride amid government support for domestic nuclear fuel.

bloomberg

2026-09-29

Trump-Backed Nuclear Plant Settles Cancer, Contamination Lawsuits

Trump-Backed Nuclear Plant Settles Cancer, Contamination Lawsuits

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