The Energy Department said the conditional loan commitment would support five two-reactor projects, expand U.S. nuclear generating capacity by about 11% and help rebuild the domestic nuclear supply chain.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of Energy announced a $17.5 billion conditional financing commitment Tuesday to support construction of 10 new large-scale nuclear reactors, a major step in the Trump administration’s push to expand domestic nuclear power and strengthen the U.S. energy supply chain.
The financing plan is designed to support the purchase of long-lead components needed for five two-reactor projects across the country. Federal officials said the program could shorten reactor construction timelines by as much as three years while lowering costs and rebuilding the industrial base needed to produce large commercial nuclear reactors in the United States.
If completed, the 10 reactors would add about 11 gigawatts of generating capacity, increasing U.S. nuclear output by roughly 11%. The added power would be enough to supply electricity to nearly 10 million homes.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the loan commitments are part of President Donald Trump’s effort to revive large-scale nuclear construction.
“Just over one year ago, President Trump directed the Energy Department and its agency partners to unleash the next American nuclear renaissance,” Wright said. “These conditional loans will play an important role in reviving the supply chain needed for America to once again build large-scale commercial reactors.”
The financing is centered on Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design, the only licensed large-scale advanced reactor currently operating in the United States. Each AP1000 reactor produces about 1.1 gigawatts of electricity.
The announcement follows a series of executive orders Trump signed about a year ago to expand nuclear energy production, streamline reactor licensing, strengthen nuclear fuel supplies and accelerate advanced reactor development.
The Energy Department said those actions have already led to the creation of the Reactor Pilot Program, expanded testing opportunities at Idaho National Laboratory and faster authorization pathways for advanced reactor projects.
Westinghouse interim CEO Dan Sumner said the program could help scale U.S. nuclear deployment domestically and abroad.
“Westinghouse is honored to partner with the U.S. government to meet this once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver nuclear power at scale in the United States and overseas,” Sumner said.
Craig Piercy, CEO of the American Nuclear Society, said large reactors remain essential to the next phase of nuclear growth.
“The nuclear resurgence will come in all shapes and sizes, but it can’t happen without a firm foundation of gigawatt scale Generation III+ reactors,” Piercy said.
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, said expanding nuclear capacity is important for long-term energy reliability and industrial competitiveness.
“Building more nuclear reactors here at home is how we secure America’s energy future and unleash American energy dominance,” Timmons said.
The DOE said the conditional financing commitment is intended to help meet Trump’s goal of having 10 new large reactors under construction within six years. The administration has framed the nuclear expansion effort as part of a broader plan to increase reliable power supplies, support domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign energy supply chains.
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