Trump Orders Quadruple Increase in U.S. Nuclear Energy Capacity

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to quadruple the nuclear energy capacity of the United States to 400 gigawatts by 2050. This expansion is driven by unprecedented energy demands from artificial intelligence and the growth of data center infrastructure. To support this mandate, the United States Department of Energy launched the Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort (UPRISE) program, which aims to add 5 GW of capacity by 2029 by uprating existing reactors and restarting dormant facilities. The department has also set a broader goal to triple nuclear power production by mid-century.

Private sector activity is accelerating to meet these targets. Constellation Energy is restarting Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island plant, renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, by late 2027 or 2028 under a 20-year agreement with Microsoft. Constellation has also secured power deals with Meta Platforms and CyrusOne. In the technology sector, BWX Technologies is developing the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR) small modular reactor and acquired Precision Components Group on April 20 to expand commercial production capacity.

Upstream supply and infrastructure are also expanding. Westinghouse Electric entered a partnership with the U.S. government worth at least $80 billion to build new reactors. Cameco, which produced 15% of the world's uranium in 2025, is positioning itself as a national security asset and signed a $2.6 billion supply deal with the government of India. Additionally, Public Service Enterprise Group increased its 2026–2030 capital program to $28 billion to address the rising energy demand.