Federal officials say small modular reactor projects, faster licensing and expanded domestic fuel production could help meet rising electricity demand from AI, data centers and advanced manufacturing.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The United States could have advanced nuclear reactors producing electricity by 2030 as federal regulators and energy officials move to accelerate next-generation nuclear projects, according to the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
NRC Chair Ho K. Nieh told the Washington Examiner that the country is positioned for a renewed expansion of nuclear power as President Donald Trump’s administration pushes to increase reliable domestic electricity generation.
The effort is aimed at meeting rising power demand from artificial intelligence data centers, advanced manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries while strengthening U.S. energy security.
“As to how soon an SMR could be operational in the U.S.,” Nieh told the Examiner, “I believe it could happen by 2030.”
Nieh pointed to TerraPower’s Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 in Wyoming as one of the projects that could place next-generation nuclear power on the U.S. grid. The project received a construction permit from the NRC earlier this year and is planned around a 345-megawatt small modular reactor.
The Wyoming project is moving through final design work and fuel preparations, and Nieh said it could become one of the first advanced reactors operating in the United States.
The administration has framed nuclear power as a central part of its broader energy strategy. According to the Department of Energy, Trump’s 2025 executive orders helped launch what officials described as an “American nuclear renaissance.”
The administration created a Reactor Pilot Program, moved to streamline reactor approvals, accelerated domestic nuclear fuel production and set a target of increasing U.S. nuclear capacity from about 100 gigawatts today to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
Federal officials say the new approach is intended to help companies move more quickly from testing and licensing to commercial deployment. The Energy Department said several advanced reactor projects are already advancing through development, testing or licensing pathways.
Tennessee has become a major focus of the nuclear buildout.
In Oak Ridge, the NRC accepted Orano USA’s application for a $5 billion uranium enrichment facility that could eventually supply about one-third of the nation’s nuclear fuel needs. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, federal regulators are working on an accelerated review schedule for the project while maintaining safety standards.
The administration’s nuclear push comes as policymakers look for steady power sources that can support rapid growth in artificial intelligence technologies and data centers. Officials have also linked expanded nuclear development to U.S. competition with China for technological and industrial leadership.
Nieh said some advanced reactors could be deployed even before broader commercial projects come online, particularly through partnerships involving the military and Department of Energy programs designed to place reactors at defense installations.
The industry still faces hurdles, including supply chain constraints and fuel availability. However, federal officials say the regulatory structure is being positioned to support a new generation of reactors.
With advanced reactors moving through licensing, fuel production projects advancing and federal programs seeking faster deployment, U.S. officials say the country is closer than it has been in decades to a larger nuclear energy expansion aimed at supporting electricity reliability, economic growth and national security.
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