In a significant policy shift, US President Donald Trump has issued new directives to accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants across the United States.
The Department of Energy has been tasked with facilitating the construction of ten conventional nuclear reactors by 2030. Additionally, Trump aims to introduce new smaller reactors of a type never before built in the US.
Trump’s so-called “nuclear renaissance” seeks to quadruple the amount of nuclear energy in the US by 2050. His predecessor, Joe Biden, also supported nuclear expansion, targeting a tripling of nuclear energy capacity.
Nuclear power plants offer the advantage of generating electricity without CO2 emissions and operate continuously. However, they remain controversial due to radioactive waste and concerns over severe accidents. Trump, a proponent of fossil fuels, views nuclear energy as a complementary source alongside gas and oil.
Trump’s plans also call for government funding to reopen closed nuclear plants. There is a goal to build at least one reactor for the US military to support data centre energy needs, particularly for artificial intelligence applications.
Simultaneously, Trump has ordered a reorganisation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, involving significant staff reductions to align with cost-cutting measures recommended by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory committee. Fixed timelines for approval processes and a comprehensive regulatory overhaul are also mandated.
