Nuclear Energy Reborn in the U.S.

Trump: "I signed historic executive orders to accelerate the construction of new nuclear power plants, which is a very relevant topic today. We issued an order, as you probably know, a month ago that makes nuclear construction much easier and very safe. And I know that Westinghouse is represented here, and they have become a new Westinghouse. Congratulations. What you're doing is truly great.

They were harmed by very incompetent people. I watched what was happening there, and the regulators really did a number on them. Our regulators are the opposite. We will be very safe — but fast and safe — and you're going to get a completely different group of people.

Plans are being announced to build 10 state-of-the-art nuclear reactors in the United States. That's great. Congratulations to Westinghouse."

President Donald Trump announced a series of historic measures to revitalize the U.S. energy sector, with a strong focus on the expansion of nuclear energy as a strategic pillar of his second term. During his remarks at the Energy and Innovation Summit in Pennsylvania, Trump unveiled an ambitious plan to build 10 next-generation nuclear reactors, while signing four executive orders aimed at streamlining regulatory processes and encouraging private investment.

“I signed historic executive orders to expedite the construction of new nuclear power plants, which is a very timely issue,” Trump stated. “We issued an order, as you probably know, a month ago that makes nuclear construction much easier and very safe. And I know Westinghouse is represented here, and they’ve become a whole new Westinghouse. Congratulations. It’s a great thing you’re doing.”

Trump claimed that companies like Westinghouse had been "hurt by very incompetent people," referring to regulators who, according to him, hindered the growth of nuclear energy in previous years. “Our regulators are the opposite. We will be very safe, but fast and safe, and you will get a completely different group of people,” he added.

The plans include the deployment of 10 AP1000 reactors by Westinghouse Electric, requiring an estimated investment of at least $75 billion. These reactors are part of a broader goal to quadruple the national nuclear capacity to 400 GW by 2050, in a context where energy demand has grown rapidly due to the rise of artificial intelligence and data centers.

As part of this effort, the Trump administration has invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel production, including the development of HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium), which is essential for advanced reactors. The Department of Energy is promoting consortiums to secure the supply chain and facilitate the manufacture and recycling of nuclear fuel in the U.S.

Internationally, Trump’s announcement has sparked enthusiasm in the private sector. Companies like NuScale Power, Lightbridge, Oklo, and Centrus Energy saw a boost in stock prices following the announcement of the executive orders. Additionally, part of the strategic weapons infrastructure and defense systems are also expected to be powered by modern nuclear energy, aligning energy policy with national security.

However, the initiative is not without criticism. Various expert organizations and Democratic senators have questioned the potential loss of independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as some of its responsibilities will now fall directly under the Department of Energy. Groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists have warned that easing regulations could pose long-term safety risks.

Nonetheless, Trump appeared confident and reiterated that the United States is reclaiming its global leadership in energy innovation after years of stagnation. “Announcing the construction of these reactors marks the beginning of a new era for clean, safe, and homegrown energy,” he declared.

Overall, this nuclear sector relaunch is part of a national strategy to address the AI-driven energy crisis, restore industrial self-sufficiency, and position the U.S. as the world’s leading provider of advanced energy technology.