Trump administration announces $17.5 billion in loans for 10 new large nuclear reactors

Key Points:

• The Trump administration is allocating $17.5 billion to accelerate the development of 10 new large nuclear reactors aimed at meeting the surging power demand from data centers, with construction expected to begin by 2030 and operations by the mid-2030s.
• The reactors will use Westinghouse’s AP1000 design, the same as the recently completed but delayed and over-budget Plant Vogtle reactors, with officials confident that building multiple units at different sites will improve supply chains and reduce costs.
• Seven utilities and energy companies have expressed interest, with the Energy Department planning to select five sites to host two reactors each, though it has not disclosed the companies or locations yet.
• The initiative supports President Trump’s goal to quadruple domestic nuclear power production within 25 years and complements efforts to develop advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors.
• Critics argue that new nuclear projects are costly and riskier compared to other low-carbon energy sources, but rising electricity use—especially from data centers projected to nearly triple their share by 2028—drives demand for expanded nuclear capacity.