Power Up AI with Nuclear Energy
As the need to build and power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers increases, support for nuclear energy is on the rise. Ensuring a stable and sufficient supply of energy is critical for the U.S. to remain the global leader in the development of new technologies. States are leading the way to aid in the effort to open new nuclear facilities with the federal government helping as well.
The enthusiasm for nuclear energy should be accompanied by policies that allow the private sector and free market to build the infrastructure and power plants needed to expand its use. Policymakers should avoid the government subsidies handed out to wind and solar energy, which made those industries uncompetitive and costly. Encouraging thoughtful and well-planned cooperation among the federal government, states, and the private sector will help to provide tens of gigawatts of clean power and achieve AI dominance for the U.S. Fortunately, these efforts are already underway.
In 2023, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) advocated for turning his state into a nuclear energy powerhouse. On June 23, 2025, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) directed the New York Power Authority to construct a nuclear power plant in upstate New York. At the June 14, 2025, House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Energy hearing, “Powering Demand: Nuclear Solutions for AI Infrastructure,” Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber (R-Texas) stated that, “Nuclear [energy] has emerged as the ideal energy source, given its clean base load power and unmatched reliability.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) added that, “We should be using any environmentally benign resources, including nuclear, to [build a more reliable and sustainable energy supply] at the lowest cost possible.”
Other nuclear energy advances are happening in Indiana, where Gov. Mike Braun (R) included advanced nuclear energy in his Freedom and Opportunity Agenda; Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox (R) is prioritizing nuclear energy advancement with a $20 million budgetary allocation; and Virginia, where the state government is attracting private companies and academia to help it lead in AI and new reactor development. Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, West Virginia and Wisconsin have all removed restrictions on new nuclear construction.
The Trump administration has also embraced an efficient approach to nuclear energy development. Palisades and Three Mile Island are currently being restored by private companies, Holtec and Constellation, and they have been provided with federal loan guarantees that will be paid back with interest. President Trump has emphasized deregulation of the nuclear sector and encouraged private investment in new nuclear technology, like small modular reactors (SMRs). Other measures to assist nuclear energy producers would be to increase grid interconnection and reduce state regulations for building and operating new plants, especially if they will be co-located with new AI data centers or manufacturing facilities.
Nuclear energy is one of the cleanest and most cost-effective ways to generate electricity. As the need for advanced data centers increases, further deployment of nuclear energy is essential.
