America’s Nuclear ‘Renaissance’ Apparently Moves Forward with Trump

Westinghouse Pursues Nuclear Reactor Expansion

Westinghouse Electric Company is said to be in talks with government officials about potentially deploying 10 nuclear reactors. This initiative aims to support President Donald Trump’s energy technology expansion plans, according to the Financial Times.

As one of the few domestic firms capable of designing and building large-scale nuclear reactors, Westinghouse appears eager to embark on several new nuclear power plants in the coming years. Trump’s recent executive order, issued on May 23, calls for the development of 10 large-scale nuclear reactors by 2030, alongside efforts to streamline the regulatory process. This has drawn interest from developers and utility companies.

“We think the executive order outlines plans for these reactors, and we’re prepared to use the AP1000 reactor design,” a source mentioned. They went on to note that their customers, which include tech firms and suppliers, are currently evaluating ways to implement these designs effectively.

There’s ongoing engagement with the administration, emphasizing connections with loan programs, according to Sumner, a Westinghouse representative.

Most nuclear power in the U.S. comes from reactors built between 1967 and 1990. Since the 1990s, the U.S. has seen a decline in nuclear power generation, with only two large reactors constructed in the past two decades.

In 2024, former President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing nuclear licensing costs and exploring the use of older industrial sites for new reactors, which could provide more opportunities in the nuclear sector.

Westinghouse seems well-positioned to meet Trump’s objectives, with an approved reactor design and operational supply chains in place. Their recent experience building two AP1000 reactors in Georgia has equipped them with a substantial amount of knowledge, as these reactors can generate electricity for roughly 750,000 homes.

Sumner mentioned that the company learned a lot from navigating the complexities encountered during the construction of an AP1000 reactor in China.

“The design is finalized… We are the only firm globally that has engaged in modular nuclear construction, and we have everything in place,” he stated.

Additionally, developers of small-scale modular reactors (SMRs) are discussing plans with government officials to build several SMRs at a single site to reduce construction risks while still providing the power output equivalent to larger reactors.

An example of an approved SMR design is from Nuscale. Energy sector experts have indicated that SMRs represent a practical approach in the nuclear field.