A Push to Accelerate Nuclear Power for AI Data Centers and More
By Paul Steidler: On May 23, President Trump issued an Executive Order to reform the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) so that it makes decisions on existing and new forms of nuclear power faster. There is now a deadline of “no more than 18 months for final decision on an application to construct and operate a new reactor type.”
The purpose, the Executive Order says, is “Nuclear energy can liberate America from dependence on geopolitical rivals. It can power not only traditional manufacturing industries but also cutting-edge, energy-intensive industries such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.”
The push for quicker timeframes makes sense. The safety record of commercial nuclear plants in the U.S. is outstanding: in nearly 60 years of operation, no one has died from a radiological-related death.
The first U.S. commercial nuclear power plant opened in 1957, a mere 12 years after the advent of nuclear technology. From 1954-78, the NRC authorized the construction of 133 since-completed reactors. Since 1978, only two approved reactors have been built.
Despite this, nuclear power remains the largest U.S. source of non-emitting, carbon-free power.
Major U.S. technology companies are investing in nuclear power so that they have an ample supply of energy for AI data centers, which are expected to drive electricity demand up significantly for the first time in decades. Nuclear is also essential for these companies to meet their zero-emission pledges.
Among those investing in nuclear power is Bill Gates, founder and chairman of TerraPower, which has received a state permit, and has ambitious plans to deploy a new type of nuclear reactor.
On October 16, Amazon announced it signed three agreements to support the development of nuclear energy projects – including enabling the construction of several new Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Google is also providing early-stage capital to develop three sites in the United States for advanced nuclear power projects.
What is different this time for nuclear power is there is a clear push for more energy in the coming decade. And that push has the backing of the tech sector, its investment community, and the White House, as well as strong support from both political parties.
Nuclear power is a proven technology that is being used extensively in China and worldwide. For the U.S. to remain the leader in this field and obtain broader economic and environmental benefits, a nuclear energy push is needed now.
President Trump is right to demand this in his Executive Order. While that alone will not end nearly 50 years of regulatory, cultural inertia due to unfounded fears, it sets a foundation for rigorous and reasonable time frames to make decisions that will help America win the AI race and prosper.