America’s Nuclear Power Revival
Published August 11, 2025
Rising energy demand from AI, cloud computing, and manufacturing has revived interest in nuclear energy. Once stalled by high costs and regulation, nuclear power has re-emerged as a scalable, zero-emission solution. Backed by next-gen technologies, private investment, and public support, its revival depends on policy reform, resilient supply chains, and global partnerships. A renewed nuclear sector could anchor America’s clean energy and security strategy.
Check out more about energy policy:
- Read "Changing the Landscape for New Nuclear Power" by James O. Ellis Jr. here.
- Read "Building Resiliency in the Indo-Pacific LNG Basin" by David Fedor here.
- Read "An Economic (Human Capital) Theory of Stagnant U.S Nuclear Power Generation Innovation" by Matthew E. Kahn here.
Learn more about James O. Ellis Jr. here.
Learn more about David Fedor here.
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The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.
© 2025 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.
>> Demand for clean, reliable, and affordable energy is on the rise, fueled by growth in manufacturing, cloud computing, and AI. To meet America's growing demand, the United States must re-embrace nuclear power, a proven large-scale source of clean energy. Through the 1970s and 80s, the United States on average, built three to four nuclear reactors per year.
That nuclear fleet still produces nearly 20% of America's electricity with virtually zero emissions, more than all wind and solar combined. But in the past two decades, we have completed just three reactors total. Rising regulatory and construction costs plus competition from cheap natural gas and renewables stalled nuclear's growth.
Recent shifts offer hope, however. Public support for nuclear is on the rise. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have invested in both conventional nuclear plants and safer next-generation projects, including small modular reactors to meet their baseload needs. So-called Generation IV Technologies, some combining nuclear with thermal storage, enhance flexibility in volatile energy markets.
And innovative financial models such as special-purpose private investment vehicles with government-backed risk sharing can help buy down the costs of building these new reactor supply chains. To seize this opportunity, policymakers must spend streamline regulations, support private-public partnerships, and pursue international cooperation with complementary partners like Korea and India.
The Trump administration's broad-ranging Energy Executive Order aims to quadruple nuclear output over the next 25 years, marking an important first step towards this vision. Fully revitalizing the US nuclear enterprise can support our energy security, economic growth, and a clean energy future.