NUCLEAR

For the last 30 years, nuclear power has consistently provided around 20% of annual electricity generation in the United States and almost half of the country’s carbon-free energy. Not a fossil fuel and not a renewable, nuclear nonetheless creates zero emissions which is essential for preventing greenhouse gases. Unlike wind and solar, nuclear operates 24/7 regardless of weather conditions and it provides the high-capacity baseline power required to fully replace coal plants. However, it creates radioactive waste which requires secure, long-term storage solutions. It creates safety concerns over accidental radiation release and there are risks surrounding the protection of nuclear materials.

A mixed bag as we search for solutions to fossil fuels

HOW MANY REACTORS ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE U.S.?

54 nuclear power plants are functioning across 28 states. The average U.S. nuclear reactor is now about 44 years old, and dozens are in various states of decommissioning. 

HAVE NEW NUCLEAR REACTORS BEEN BUILT RECENTLY?

Three new reactors have come online since 1996: Watts Bar Unit 2 in 2016, followed by Vogtle Unit 3 in 2023 and Vogtle Unit 4 in 2024. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), these Vogtle units are the first new large-scale reactors built in the U.S. in over 30 years. 

ECONOMIC FACTORS AND AI EMERGENCE

For a host of reasons, the legacy of nuclear power in the United States includes years-long delays in construction, power plants abandoned before completion, and massive cost overruns passed on to the public. As the cost of renewable energy continues to fall and natural gas remains abundant, new nuclear reactors have historically struggled to be cost-competitive.

However, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has dramatically shifted the landscape. In response to massive grid strain, major tech and AI infrastructure corporations—including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft—have signed major nuclear power deals to source reliable, zero-emission electricity directly for their data centers.

ARE REACTORS BEING MODERNIZED?

In 2020 the federal government launched the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). “Advanced” reactors are designed to be smaller and cheaper, with most classified as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Backed by $2.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed by the Biden administration in 2021, the program has hit historic regulatory milestones: 

• TerraPower’s Natrium Reactor:In March 2026, the NRC officially approved the construction permit for TerraPower’s 345-MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This marked the first time the agency approved a commercial non-light-water reactor design in more than 40 years.
• X-energy’s X-100 Reactor:The company continues to navigate formal regulatory reviews for its planned industrial facility in Texas. 

 IS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTIVE?

The federal government has systematically moved to rebuild domestic supply chains and reduce regulatory bottlenecks:

• Supply Chain Security:The DOE continues to execute its strategy to increase domestic uranium mining and secure a national uranium reserve.
• Funding & Deregulation:The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 allocated $6 billion to support existing nuclear plants under the Civil Nuclear Credit Program. Furthermore, following the passage of the ADVANCE Act, federal directives aimed at accelerating nuclear deployment have significantly streamlined the NRC's licensing timelines. 

Despite federal backing, several states still maintain strict nuclear moratoriums, bans, or environmental restrictions on new plant construction.

IS THERE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT?

At COP28, more than 20 countries endorsed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 to meet global net-zero goals.