Greetings!

In this week’s issue, we feature Ken Luongo’s recent article in The National Interest which discusses the challenges nuclear power faces in meeting the growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers. We spotlight numerous developments related to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Finally, we highlight key nuclear technology, security, and geopolitical developments, reports, and analyses.

This issue of Nuclear News and Views was produced by PGS Program Director, Patrick Kendall, and Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellows, Mackenzie Hansen and Gabriela Zanko.

A longer version of this article was published by The Center for the National Interest and it can be found here.

The hope that new nuclear energy can be quickly synced with rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is currently running out of phase with reality.

The data center explosion is the most recent driver of the “nuclear power renaissance,” and there is a convincing case for its value to these power-hungry plants. Reactors can provide steady energy for decades and supplement current energy supplies that data centers will pressure.

The Trump nuclear executive orders (EOs) are designed to accelerate the nuclear deployment timeline to match new nuclear technologies with market demand. But that set of policy initiatives is not enough to catch an AI wave that is rapidly building into a tsunami.

There are substantial headwinds to success posed by reactor uncertainty, deployment costs, supply chain gaps, an inadequate workforce, and regulatory hurdles. Then there’s the ever-looming competition from Russia and China and their government-centric offerings.

Overcoming these challenges requires a strategic package of public-led and private sector implemented financial, regulatory, and policy responses. This should include cooperation with strong nuclear power partners like South Korea and Japan, as well as non-traditional nuclear power allies such as the United Arab Emirates which could provide financing. This package is something that the United States and its allies have been incapable of delivering so far but it is necessary for success.

Powering the Artificial Intelligence Eruption

At the beginning of 2024, there were over 10,000 data centers worldwide, with over half in the United States (5,388). A Deloitte Research Center analysis predicts that US data center power requirements could rise to 176 gigawatts (GW) by 2035, up from 33 GW in 2024.

A multitude of massive data center projects are under development by America’s largest tech companies, including Amazon, Open AI, Meta, Google, and Microsoft. But most are slated to run primarily on natural gas despite the investment these companies have made in start-up nuclear power companies.

Many of the next-gen reactors reside on a drawing board, are wading through the licensing process, and are at least a decade from deployment.

Westinghouse has announced its intention to build ten new reactors in the U.S. That is in line with the president’s EOs. But with a start date of 2030, which is five years from now, and a 10-year construction time, they may be too late for this wave of the AI boom.

Existing large reactors can provide some nuclear juice for data center expansion in the short term, especially through the relicensing and uprating of operating plants and the resurrection of mothballed reactors.

For example, Three Mile Island Unit 1 is scheduled to be reopened in 2028 in support of Microsoft. The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan will also reopen with support from a loan guarantee from the US government. And NextEra Energy is seeking to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa.

The Trump EOs aim for five GW of growth from existing reactors through uprating the power output, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is anticipating 30 power uprate applications through 2030.

Creating a Strategy & Package

While the scope of the Trump nuclear policy directives is very substantial, their sheer density make it difficult to discern if there is a strategy in them designed to shake the foundations of nuclear business as usual.

If the plan primarily rests on hollowing out the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and relying on private sector financing, that is not a winning strategy for accelerating deployment.

The missing piece for both domestic and export deployment is the role of expanded government financing or loan guarantees along with the inclusion of a deep-pocketed sovereign wealth fund (like the UAE) that could provide bankrolling along with the U.S. and other allies.

The private sector will not be able to carry the burden of data center nuclear development and deployment without a strong government partner. That is the package that has been used very successfully by Russia and China.

The administration has done a commendable job of identifying its nuclear objectives and the component elements that are required to meet them. What it hasn’t done is create the strategy and financial incentives package that will allow it to successfully meet the artificial intelligence opportunity.

Sustaining a data center-nuclear deployment disconnect could crater American nuclear competitiveness and drive the renaissance to ruin.

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

NRC in Transition

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is facing a significant transition period under the Trump administration, and it clearly is not going to be business as usual for the agency for the next few years. The question is whether the changes can strengthen and speed the review of new reactors or if the proposed reforms will weaken the world’s nuclear regulatory gold standard.

Early in his term, President Trump issued the Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies Executive Order that required all independent agencies to submit for review by the White House “all proposed and final significant regulatory action.” This presumably included the NRC, as an independent agency. The president further clarified the NRC reforms he wanted in the Executive Order on NRC Reform. It identified a series of changes designed to accelerate licensing of new reactors among other issues. The NRC was already working on reforms required by the Congress.

President Trump then abruptly terminated NRC Commissioner Christopher Hanson last month and commissioner Annie Caputo announced her early resignation from the agency this week. To replace departed commissioners, the president recently nominated Ho Nieh to be a member through 2029. Nieh is currently a Vice President at Southern Company on loan to INPO. The U.S. Senate recently confirmed David Wright to lead the Commission as Chairman for another five-year term.

The shake-up in the NRC’s leadership is in line with the Trump administration’s overall efforts to loosen the regulatory red tape it believes is impeding American technology. However, there is concern that the administration’s actions will have the reverse effect it desires and by shedding expertise it will slow nuclear deployment at a critical time. In the meantime, the nuclear industry has just released a detailed set of proposals for NRC reform that it supports.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Issues of Special Interest

Global AI and Data Center Energy

Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo has entered into two separate collaborative agreements that look to supply energy to data centers and large load industrial operations. Oklo and Liberty Energy will pursue high-demand customers such as data centers, using Liberty’s natural gas generation while establishing a staged transition to baseload nuclear power as Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse reactors are commissioned and deployed. This agreement is similar to the Oklo-RPower “phased energy model” deal from January. Oklo also entered into a collaborative agreement with Vertiv to co-develop and pilot integrated power and thermal management installations for artificial intelligence applications.

The Department of Energy announced the next steps in the Trump administration’s plans to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure through siting on federal land. The Department of Energy has selected four sites to move forward with plans to invite private sector partners to develop AI data centers and energy generation projects. The sites selected are the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and the Savannah River National Laboratory.

Helion Energy has started construction on a site for a planned nuclear fusion power plant that will supply power to Microsoft data centers by 2028. The site is located in Malaga, Washington, and the startup will have to secure the final permits from Washington’s government before deploying its fusion plants for Microsoft. Helion is currently working on a fusion reactor prototype called Polaris, while Microsoft has recently signed power purchase agreements for conventional fission-based nuclear power to provide energy for its data centers around the country.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory and AI startup Atomic Canyon announced their collaboration aimed at streamlining licensing for new nuclear power plants. The plan is to use high-performance computing to create simulations that ensure the safety of designs while accelerating licensing with AI to automate aspects of the regulatory review process. Oak Ridge is currently home to massive computing power deployed to help train Atomic Canyon’s AI model, which is based on over 50 million pages of documents from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for lower-carbon data center development in his recent address on climate change. Guterres stated that the projected amount of electricity set to be consumed by data centers is not sustainable unless major technological partners and nations work to power all data centers with 100% renewable energy by 2030. Analysts from Morgan Stanley project a 23% annual growth in worldwide data center capacity through 2030, with a mix of natural gas, renewables, and nuclear power being the primary sources of electricity.

The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on International Nuclear Affairs

The IAEA Director General issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine on July 30th, highlighting that contrary to reports on social media, there have been no measured increases in radiation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Measurements were taken by IAEA personnel utilizing IAEA equipment after social media reports had surfaced regarding alleged spikes in radiation at the site. Grossi used the statement to highlight the IAEA’s critical role in ensuring the nuclear security and safety of Ukraine, and he also stressed how precarious the situation is for personnel on the ground as the team has heard military activity almost every day last week.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi issued a statement on July 26th of additional military attacks on the city of Enerhodar where IAEA personnel reside. IAEA staff were sent to assess the damage of strikes from July 25th but were unable to confirm the timing nor the cause of the damage observed. Evidence of shelling damage was found in multiple places across Enerhodar within a 5 km radius from the plant. Grossi stressed that such military activity can have adverse effects on the staff’s physical and mental wellbeing and thus can also adversely affect nuclear safety and security.

Russia

Rosatom announced that the first stage of the design phase of a prototype molten salt reactor design has been completed. The design was originally revealed in 2024 with the design phase projected to last until 2027 under the supervision of the Kurchatov Institute. The target year for the launch of the reactor is 2031. The reactor is meant to help further Russia’s broader goals of closing its fuel cycle as well as increasing its development of advanced energy systems. The design will help reduce nuclear waste while also providing a technology that can process dangerous used fuel from thermal reactors.

The second stage of the Experimental and Demonstration Centre in Zheleznogorsk has been launched. This will be the first reprocessing plant to reprocess used nuclear fuel without generating liquid radioactive waste. The development of the plant is an important step to closing the nuclear fuel cycle in Russia and reducing nuclear waste as the nuclear energy sector continues to grow. Rosatom’s Director General also highlighted that the plant is a component of the country “launching fourth-generation energy systems in the next 15 years”.

Rosatom and Niger’s Ministry of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on nuclear energy. Part of the agreement involved joint training of specialists as well as collaboration in other areas such as defense. Uranium mining is a key component of the MoU that is meant to help Niger sustain development and economic prosperity. France owns a percentage of Somaïr, which operates the Arlit uranium mine in Niger, but the mine has been under Nigerian control since December. It is currently unclear how this relationship will develop given new collaboration between Niger and Russia.

Pre-assembly work has begun on the Leningrad nuclear power plant’s seventh unit. The plant is one of Russia’s largest, providing 55% of St. Petersburg’s and Leningrad’s electricity needs. Leningrad I and II are currently shut down, with Leningrad II-1 and Leningrad II-2 (units five and six) projected to last until 2080. The seventh and eighth units are meant to replace units three and four as they are nearing their end of operation. Construction for unit seven began in March 2024 and the unit is expected to generate power for 60 years.

China

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) unveiled the design for its CFR-1000 advanced reactor at a symposium held earlier this week. CNNC told the symposium’s attendees that the preliminary design of the reactor had been completed and is now awaiting approval from the Chinese government. The CFR-1000 will be China’s first commercial fourth-generation gigawatt-level fast neutron reactor, and it could be a crucial step for China in its plans to develop and deploy next-generation nuclear energy.

China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) announced the installation of the first segment of the inner steel containment at Unit 3 of the Taipingling nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province. The component, approximately 40 meters in diameter, 6 meters tall, and weighing 130 tonnes, forms the base of the containment structure for a Hualong One reactor. Unit 3 is the third of six planned units at the site. Construction began in June 2025, following earlier development of Units 1 and 2, which started in 2019 and 2020, respectively. According to project timelines, Unit 1 is expected to begin operation later in 2025, with Unit 2 projected for 2026.

Cold hydrostatic testing at Tianwan Unit 7 in Jiangsu Province has been completed. The tests mark the first integrated operation of reactor systems alongside auxiliary systems in this CAP1000‑design unit. The next steps will focus on hot functional testing and preparation for commissioning.

Europe

The British government announced plans to develop its National Policy Statement that would accelerate the development of fusion energy projects. The plan will see nuclear fusion introduced into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, putting fusion projects in the same category as other clean energy technologies and helping these projects move faster along the development and deployment process. The United Kingdom is now the first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning rules, and the British government’s recent Spending Review also delivered a commitment to invest more than £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) in fusion research and development.

The United Kingdom has given the final go-ahead for the completion of the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Plant project after securing additional investment from three additional companies: La Caisse, Centrica, and Amber Infrastructure. Under the deal, the British state will be the largest stakeholder in the project, with La Caisse, Centrica, Amber Infrastructure, and Électricité de France (EDF) holding minority stakes. The Sizewell C Power Plant will be just the second new nuclear power plant built in Britain in more than two decades, and it is expected to be operational by the mid 2030s.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom would benefit from working more closely with the United States on small modular reactors (SMR) as he met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland. Trump added that the United States is currently looking into opportunities for the deployment of SMRs in the country, including potential collaboration with British company Rolls-Royce SMR. Recently, the British government selected Rolls-Royce SMR to build the United Kingdom’s first SMRs and pledged £2.5 billion ($3.35 billion) to kickstart the advanced reactor industry.

U.S. microreactor developer Last Energy announced it remains on track to obtain a site license decision for its project in South Wales by December 2027. This follows the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review of its PWR-20 power plant design, with the regulators’ summary report stating that Last Energy’s 2027 target is achievable but contingent on the company delivering its submissions to the standard and schedule agreed upon. Last Energy originally announced its plans for four microreactor power plants at the Llynfi site last year and became the first microreactor developer in the United Kingdom to formally enter site licensing for its project.

French innovative reactor developer Newcleo announced it is suspending its program to develop lead-cooled fast reactors in the United Kingdom, winding down its activities in the country. Following a review of its global programs, Newcleo’s said it plans to retain a reduced team in the United Kingdom to maintain its presence in the country while also requesting to meet with the British government to explore any new proposals that could reverse the company’s decision. Last year, Newcleo’s LFR-AS-200 reactor design was accepted to enter the UK’s Generic Design Assessment licensing process.

French utility Électricité de France (EDF) is planning to cut back on its overseas nuclear power plant projects as it focuses on its domestic construction program under new CEO Bernard Fontana. Fontana told a parliamentary hearing that he would prioritize developing the company’s domestic nuclear projects over international business, as well as maintaining tender bids for projects in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland that are viewed as more reliable. Going forward, EDF plans to pull back from projects in countries such as Poland, India, and Canada where high costs and design issues have hurt the company’s ability to compete.

Belgium and France signed a declaration of intent to further cooperate on nuclear energy, aiming to strengthen exchanges between the two countries in key areas such as lifetime extensions of existing reactors and the development of new projects and advanced technologies such as small modular reactors (SMR). The two countries will also work together on research and innovation, supply chains, and training. Both France and Belgium are seeking to expand their respective nuclear power sectors, with Belgium’s government voting earlier this year to drop its previously planned nuclear phaseout.

Poland’s Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) signed a letter of intent to collaborate on a framework for the development and operation of GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMR) in Poland. The document will facilitate cooperation between the two companies, with OPG providing pre-operational services such as site assessment, project management, and consulting services. The agreement builds on a previous agreement signed by OSGE and OPG in 2023, under which OPG and its subsidiaries could provide operator services to OSGE for SMRs.

Poland’s nuclear power plant developer, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), notified the European Commission of plans to invest in the country’s first AP1000 reactor. Notifying the Commission of nuclear projects is a requirement for European Union member states under Article 41 of the Euratom Treaty in order for the Commission to be able to ensure that projects align with the objectives of the treaty. The goal is for the reactor to be operational by 2033.

Czech utility CEZ and British advanced reactor developer Rolls-Royce SMR signed an Early Works Agreement to start site-specific work for potential small modular reactors (SMR) at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. The early works will include regulatory approvals and licensing, an environmental impact assessment, and detailed planning and regulatory engagement. CEZ selected Rolls-Royce SMR last year as its technology partner for the proposed installation of up to 3 gigawatts of capacity for SMRs, with the goal of building the first SMR at Temelín by the mid-2030s.

Norwegian energy developer Ocean-Power and Danish nuclear company Copenhagen Atomics signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study the potential for producing electricity and heat in Norway using molten salt reactors. The study will assess the technical and regulatory conditions for deploying thorium reactors in Norway, including Copenhagen Atomics’ containerized molten salt reactor. The MoU will combine Ocean-Power’s expertise in project development and energy conversion with Copenhagen Atomics’ advanced reactor technology.

Norway’s Trondheimsleia Kjernekraft AS and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) will conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a power plant based on multiple Korean-designed i-SMR reactors in the municipalities of Aure and Heim. The study will assess the technical, environmental, and regulatory requirements for establishing several SMR units and will also be supported by the Export-Import Bank of Korea. KHNP is aiming to complete the standard design for its i-SMR by the end of 2025 and obtain standard design approval in 2028.

Slovakian utility Slovenské elektrárne has signed a contract with multinational company Urenco Group for the supply of enriched uranium to its Bohunice and Mochovce Nuclear Power Plants into the mid-2030s. This follows the utility’s international tender from last year which sought to diversify Slovakia’s nuclear fuel and technology supplies, strengthen its energy security, and reduce its dependence on Russian nuclear fuel imports. Slovakia currently has five operable nuclear reactors that generate about half of the country’s electricity.

U.S. and Bulgarian officials held meetings to discuss the potential financing of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. Specifically, the U.S. Export-Import Bank expressed its interest in financing the Kozloduy reactor units. According to Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, the two Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactors will be the first to operate in Europe.

Asia & The Pacific

Japan’s Kansai Electric Power Co. is planning to build a next-generation nuclear reactor at its Mihama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture. The company will resume a survey of geological and other conditions for building the new reactor, with the company expected to submit its application to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority if the survey finds it feasible. The move comes after the Japanese government adopted a new basic energy plan that clarifies its policy of making maximum use of nuclear plants and outlines plans to work on the development and installation of next-generation reactors.

The start of full-scale removal of melted debris at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant will be delayed by several years. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated that it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting the full-scale removal of melted debris at the Fukushima No. 3 reactor, subsequently setting back the Japanese government’s target of fully cleaning up and decommissioning the shuttered power plant by 2051. Currently, at least 800 tons of melted nuclear fuel have mixed with debris found inside Fukushima’s three reactors and will need to be removed before the power plant can be fully shut down.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) concluded that Unit 3 of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant meets the revised safety standards, thus moving the power plant a step closer to restarting operations. The Tomari Nuclear Power Plant in Hokkaido has been offline since unit 3 stopped power generation for regulator inspection in 2012. The power plant’s owner, Hokkaido EPC, is seeking regulatory approval to restart all three of its reactors as the NRA requires final safety inspections to ensure reactor units meet new safety regulations.

The IAEA conducted a follow-up Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission to Sri Lanka which found that the country is making progress on establishing nuclear infrastructure and has already identified five potential new-build sites for nuclear power plants. The mission states that in addition to the sites, Sri Lanka has established a management structure to oversee the procurement process for nuclear reactors, drafted a comprehensive nuclear law, and included nuclear power in its current long-term energy planning. Sri Lanka does not currently have any nuclear reactors but has considered adopting nuclear power in recent years.

Singaporean Energy Minister Tan See Leng stated that Singapore needs to build its capabilities in nuclear energy as other countries in the region have signaled their intent to build new nuclear facilities. Tan added that Singapore will need to train local individuals in order to evaluate the viability of nuclear energy for the country as the government is still deliberating using nuclear power. Singapore has also renewed its Third Country Training Program with the IAEA, which will see Singapore develop training programs in collaboration with the agency and support the country with fellowships, scientific visits, and training courses.

Africa

Rosatom subsidiary Mantra Tanzania Ltd. has commissioned the pilot uranium processing plant at the Mkuju River project in southern Tanzania. The plant will be used to test uranium processing technologies and inform the design of the main processing complex that will have a production capacity of up to 3,000 tons of uranium per year. Tanzania’s government is seeking to expand the country’s uranium production, with construction on the processing plant scheduled to begin in 2026 and be commissioned in 2029.

U.S.-based DeepGeo Inc and South Africa’s Allweld Nuclear & Industrial signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of nuclear power capacity across Africa. According to World Nuclear News, the agreement supports DeepGeo’s Ubuntu Nuclear Energy initiative, aiming to deploy standardized nuclear fleets regionally while progressively localizing the supply chain. Allweld will support construction, operation, and maintenance roles, facilitating early-stage deployment and investment efforts.

South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator approved the transfer of the Vaalputs low-level radioactive waste disposal facility license to the Nuclear Waste Disposal Institute (NWDI). The regulator confirmed that NWDI met regulatory criteria under the National Nuclear Regulator Act and the Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Act, authorizing NWDI to manage waste reception, storage, transfer, and trench disposal at the site.

The Middle East

Hyundai Engineering and Construction signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Co. (ENEC) for strategic cooperation in nuclear energy development. The two companies plan to establish a framework for joint development and participation in new nuclear projects, with collaboration focusing on information and knowledge exchange, review of strategic investment opportunities, and exploration of joint business participation opportunities. Hyundai E&C and ENEC have a history of nuclear cooperation, with Hyundai being the lead contractor for the construction of ENEC’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Westinghouse Electric Company have signed a preliminary agreement to boost the use of advanced nuclear energy solutions. Under the agreement, the two companies will explore ways to accelerate the use of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor in the United States and work together to develop commercial and operational deployment models for new reactors. The collaboration is in line with both countries’ plans to rapidly expand their nuclear power generation.

South & Central America

Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) have signed a letter of intent to cooperate on uranium-related aspects of energy transition and mineral chain modernization. The agreement, signed during the BRICS summit in early July 2025, establishes a platform for joint research, technological innovation, and sustainable development in uranium processing and materials science, involving universities, research centers, and industry partners.

North America Nuclear Collaborations and Policy

United States

The United States and the European Union signed a massive trade deal in which the EU will pledge to buy $750 billion in energy from the United States in exchange for a lower tariff rate of 15%. As part of this trade deal, the EU pledges to make significant purchases of U.S. oil, liquefied natural gas, and nuclear fuel to replace Russian fossil fuels, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that the details will be sorted out in the coming weeks. Given that the deal also includes a non-binding $600 billion EU investment in the United States by 2028, some officials and analysts have questioned whether this level of investment is realistic.

A lawsuit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) could force the agency to relinquish some of its authority over licensing small modular reactors (SMR) to individual states. The lawsuit lodged by nuclear developer Last Energy and the states of Texas and Utah asserts that the NRC does not have licensing authority over some nuclear microreactors and SMRs, which would mean that states would likely assume oversight of such reactors barring further congressional action. The lawsuit further alleges that NRC regulations have stifled innovation and development in the U.S. nuclear industry.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a series of licensing and regulatory actions that pave the way for the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan. The decision allows Holtec International to load nuclear fuel into the power plant and also transfers the operating authority for the plant and its spent fuel storage facility to Palisades Energy. Holtec began filing licensing and regulatory requests in 2023 to return the plant to operation and will now need to meet numerous licensing actions under NRC review before the plant can start up under the original operating license.

Senators Andy Kim and Tim Sheehy have introduced the bipartisan Advanced Reactor Modernization for Operational Resilience (ARMOR) Act of 2025 to the U.S. Senate. The bill’s goal is to boost U.S. energy resilience and security through the use of nuclear energy at military installations and further spur nuclear energy innovation. Some of the provisions of the bill include establishing a pilot program within the Army to deploy fixed facility advanced small modular reactors (SMR) at selected installations and authorizing multi-year contracts that encourage the co-location of AI infrastructure and data centers.

President Donald Trump has dismissed all but one of the members of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB), an entity that has oversight over the country’s long-term spent nuclear fuel storage program. Democratic officials such as Representative Scott Peters voiced their concern over the dismissal of the Board members, which leaves Peter Swift as the only member of the Board. This move comes as the Trump administration is aiming to expand the deployment of nuclear power and cut down the regulatory infrastructure that it views as stifling nuclear technology development and construction.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) has begun the fabrication of the reactor core for the Project Pele mobile microreactor at its campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. BWXT also said it has completed the fabrication of the tristructural isotropic particle (TRISO) fuel) for the reactor and will ship it to the Idaho National Laboratory in the coming months. Project Pele was launched in 2019 with the goal of designing, building, and demonstrating a prototype mobile nuclear reactor for the Department of Defense within the next five years.

Kairos Power installed the reactor vessel for its third Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0) at the company’s Oak Ridge campus. Kairos noted that the ETU 3.0 installation is a contract milestone under its agreement with the Department of Energy through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). ETU 3.0 will serve as a testing and training platform in order to ensure the safe operation of Kairos’s Hermes advanced reactor, and the expertise gained will also help pave the way for the deployment of the company’s commercial fleet.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Type One Energy signed the first set of commercial contracts related to Project Infinity. Under the new contracts, TVA will use its Power Service Shops (PSS) facility in Alabama to develop custom wielding and fabrication techniques that will be used for Type One’s Infinity One prototype stellarator fusion machine. Project Infinity is an initiative by TVA to develop and deploy a nuclear fusion facility as early as the mid-2030s.

The Department of Energy announced the start of a new pilot program to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors and strengthen the domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel. The Department has issued a Request for Application and is seeking qualified companies to build and operate nuclear fuel production lines using the DoE’s authorization process. The program seeks to expedite the testing of advanced reactor designs, with the goal of three reactors reaching criticality by July 2026.

BWX Technologies (BWXT) announced it has installed all the equipment required for the production of tristructural isotropic particle (TRISO) fuel for advanced reactors at its technology center in Virginia. The company’s Advanced Technologies subsidiary recently completed the installation and testing of its chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) furnace, completing the equipment necessary to execute BWXT’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) project with the Department of Energy. In 2020, BWXT was awarded an 80/20 cost share for the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR), which is a transportable microreactor using TRISO fuel.

The Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) has successfully developed and validated large-scale, ED-printed polymer composite forms for casting complex concrete structures for nuclear power plants. In partnership with Kairos Power and Barnard Construction, the DoE’s testing took place at the Oak Ridge campus where Kairos’ Hermes Demonstration Reactor is also under construction. Kairos Power intends to use 3D-printed forms at a larger scale for its future nuclear power plants as it seeks to cut down production timelines by using 3D-printed structural components.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has proposed a new energy bill, which contains a provision that would clear the way for developers to build new nuclear energy facilities in the state. The bill would repeal a 1982 law requiring voter approval on a statewide ballot prior to the construction of a new nuclear power plant and would also do away with the state’s prohibition on new nuclear reactor construction until there is a federal repository to store the radioactive spent fuel. Massachusetts currently operates the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth but has come into conflict with the region’s nuclear watchdogs on numerous occasions.

Wyoming lawmakers are considering draft legislation that would allow manufacturers of advanced reactors to store high-level radioactive waste at their sites in the state. With companies such as Radiant Industries seeking to build microreactor manufacturing plants in the state of Wyoming, this legislation would serve as an exception to the state’s ban on nuclear fuel waste storage and remove a barrier to the expansion of new nuclear manufacturing and power production. However, the measure faces significant public opposition from locals who do not want to have nuclear waste stored locally.

Canada

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced its decision to authorize Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to construct and operate the Pickering Component Storage Structure at the Pickering Waste Management Facility (PWMF). OPG has stated that this structure is essential for the storage of nuclear waste resulting from refurbishment and decommissioning activities at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. A separate application from OPG seeking authorization for refurbishment activities will be subject to a CNSC hearing in 2026.

American and Canadian leaders and energy executives attended the Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatoon to deepen bilateral collaboration on nuclear power. Participants from both countries emphasized the importance of nuclear energy as a clean and reliable solution to growing power demands, with Westinghouse Canada President John Gorman emphasizing U.S. leadership in nuclear energy and Canada’s uranium reserves. Executives also addressed efforts to reduce reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium.

Orano Canada and Denison Mines announced the restart of uranium mining at the McClean Lake site in Saskatchewan, Canada, marking the first such activity since operations were halted in 2008. The companies intend to produce around 800,000 pounds of U₃O₈ in 2025, with potential for up to 3 million pounds from combined McClean North and Caribou deposits between 2026 and 2030. Mining resumed using a patented Surface Access Borehole Resource Extraction (SABRE) method targeting the McClean North deposit, producing approximately 250 tons of high-grade ore with over 10% U₃O₈.

Mexico

There are no new updates for this region.

New Research

2024 NEA Annual Report

The Nuclear Energy Agency, July 30

New Nuclear Energy Guide for State Policymakers

Nuclear Innovation Alliance, July 30

Op-Eds & Articles

Nuclear Waste Isn’t a Technical Problem. It’s a Political One.

The National Interest, July 30

The Role of Nuclear Energy in a Sustainable Future

UN Trade & Development, July 30

Meet the Only US Company Building an Advanced Reactor

E&E News, July 29

A Retired Nuclear Plant in Michigan Is About to Restart, A First for US

Canary Media, July 29

Setting The Record Straight on ‘Nuclear Waste’

Cowboy State Daily, July 29

America’s Bases Need Reliable Energy – Nuclear Can Deliver

Stars & Stripes, July 28

Long-Unloved Nuclear Power Is Staging a Comeback

Bloomberg, July 24

Is Nuclear Energy Clean? (And Are We Ready for It?)

Citizens’ Climate Lobby, July 24

New York Must and Will Embrace Advance Nuclear Power to Fuel Our Future

The Journal News, July 24

The IRA Rollback Is a Disaster for Energy. Industry Leaders Must Move Fast.

Utility Dive, July 23

How The Nuclear Company in Columbia Aims to Combat the US’s Looming Energy Crisis

The Columbia Business Report, July 22

Small Modular Reactors Are Gaining Steam Globally. Will Any Get Built?

Canary Media, July 21

Why The Nuclear Energy Renaissance Is Real – And Necessary

Utility Dive, July 21

Democrats Bow to Nuclear-Energy Reality – But the Left Won’t Give Up Their Delusions

The New York Post, July 20

News items and summaries compiled by:

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Mackenzie Hansen, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Gabriela Zanko, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security