USEA Virtual Press Briefing: Is a New Golden Age for Nuclear Power Dawning?

Matt Chester of Chester Energy and Policy recently had the pleasure of joining a USEA Virtual Press Briefing as a member of the media asking pointed questions to key leaders in the sector. The full details and video can be found at this USEA.org link, and the relevant information is also copied below.

There was already a feeling in the nuclear power industry that a great leap in the fortunes of the industry was at hand. But President Donald Trump has escalated those hopes with four executive orders.

Trump seeks to cut the time it takes to get a reactor license to a short 18 months. He is calling for the construction of 10 large reactors of the type now in use. And he is endorsing everything along the nuclear power chain, from uranium mining to waste disposal to the deployment of small modular reactors.

In all, the president wants to quadruple nuclear power production by 2050.

It is exciting. It is breathtaking. It is dramatic. It is needed.

But is it feasible?

Definitely some new reactors are likely to be built, driven by the big tech companies that are desperate for the power for their data centers and prepared to use some of their wealth to that end. Witness Microsoft’s commitment to restarting the undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, and Meta’s commitment to extend the life of the Clinton Plant in Illinois by 20 years.

The question is whether the big techs go all the way and change the landscape by commissioning new-build nuclear plants. Also, will the administration provide “backstop” guarantees for first-of-a-kind new plants, especially SMRs?

The United States Energy Association’s virtual press briefing, set for Wednesday, June 11, at 11 a.m. EDT, will examine the new golden age of nuclear power when senior reporters who cover energy will question nuclear power experts in a collegial atmosphere.

On the June 11 expert panel:

James Schaefer, Guggenheim Partners

Scott Hunnewell, VP of New Nuclear, TVA

Cyril Draffin, Senior Fellow for Advanced Nuclear, USNIC

Shanthi Muthiah, Managing Director and Senior VP, ICF

James Walker, CEO, NANO Nuclear

Steve Chengelis, VP, Energy Supply and Nuclear Development, EPRI

Benton Arnett, Senior Director of Markets and Policy, NEI

The reporter panel:

Matthew Daly, The Associated Press

Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal

Tim Gardner, Reuters

Matt Chester, Energy Central

William Freebairn, S&P Global

Markham Hislop, Energi (Canada)