The Trump administration has announced a $17.5 billion financing program aimed at rebuilding the U.S. nuclear supply chain and speeding up the construction of 10 new large-scale nuclear reactors, marking one of the country’s biggest nuclear energy initiatives in decades.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) revealed a conditional loan commitment that will help fund the purchase of critical long-lead components for 10 new reactors based on Westinghouse’s AP1000 design. These components include reactor pressure vessels, steam generators, and structural modules that often require years to manufacture.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s effort to launch a new era of American nuclear energy. According to Wright, the financing could shorten reactor construction timelines by as much as three years while helping reduce overall project costs.
The DOE said the program will support up to five projects, with each project consisting of two reactors. Together, the planned reactors would generate more than 11 gigawatts of electricity, enough to supply power to nearly 10 million U.S. homes.
Officials stressed that the loans are not intended to directly finance reactor construction. Instead, the funding will focus on strengthening the domestic supply chain and ensuring key components are available when projects move forward.
Greg Beard, head of the Energy Dominance Financing office, said standardizing reactor designs and repeatedly building the same model is essential for lowering nuclear construction costs. He noted that the administration wants to have 10 large reactors under construction by 2030.
The supply-chain expansion is expected to benefit more than 100 companies across over 40 U.S. states. To qualify for DOE financing, Westinghouse and each utility or energy company partner must contribute roughly $500 million each in equity, creating about $1 billion in private investment for every project.
Seven utilities and energy companies have already signed letters of intent, although only five projects are expected to be selected during the initial phase.
Administration officials also pointed to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and large data centers as major drivers of future electricity demand. Beard said technology companies are increasingly willing to pay premium prices for reliable power to support AI infrastructure.
Wright added that long-term power purchase agreements with technology firms could help improve project economics without raising electricity costs for consumers. He said the administration expects the current projects to be only the beginning of a broader expansion of nuclear power in the United States.
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Nuclear energy currently supplies about 20% of U.S. electricity and remains the country’s largest source of carbon-free power generation. Officials believe lessons learned from the construction of Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at Georgia’s Vogtle nuclear plant, combined with a standardized design and stronger supply chain, will help future projects avoid the delays and cost overruns seen in the past.
