Trump Directs Increase in Nuclear Power for AI Data Centers – HostingJournalist.com

In a major policy initiative to enhance U.S. artificial intelligence capabilities, President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to double the nation’s nuclear energy development over the next 25 years. These directives are central to his strategy to secure high-density, resilient power sources to meet the growing energy needs of AI technologies and compete globally, especially with China.

The orders mandate the rapid construction and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, classifying them as essential military electric infrastructure. These next-generation facilities are intended to provide stable, secure energy sources resistant to grid disruptions and external threats, which are crucial for powering data-intensive computing operations that support modern AI applications.

At the White House signing ceremony, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum highlighted the urgency and strategic importance of this energy transition. “We have enough electricity to win the AI arms race with China,” said Burgum. “For the first time in history, electricity can be directly converted into intelligence. What we do in the next five years will determine the next fifty.”

One directive assigns Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to establish AI data centers in 48 states and Washington, D.C., excluding Alaska and Hawaii. These centers will operate in conjunction with Department of Energy (DoE) facilities and be designated as vital to national defense infrastructure. The goal is to integrate AI computing power within the existing federal energy framework, ensuring security and scalability.

Chris Wright is also tasked with identifying at least one DoE facility for deploying privately funded advanced nuclear technologies, including Generation III+ reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and both stationary and mobile systems. These systems are expected to provide “resilient, secure, and reliable power” to AI data centers and broader defense infrastructure.

One controversial aspect of the executive orders involves restructuring the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC, which has regulated nuclear activity in the U.S. for five decades, will see some powers redistributed to speed up the approval of new reactor designs. Burgum described this as a landmark change, stating, “Put this day on your calendar because it will reverse more than 50 years of excessive industrial regulation.”

The push for nuclear-powered AI data center infrastructure follows earlier Trump-era directives promoting coal for powering data centers. The Department of Energy estimates national electricity demand will rise by 6% to 12% by 2028, driven largely by AI workloads. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for 19% of U.S. power generation, with fossil fuels providing 60% and renewables making up 21%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Using nuclear energy for AI is not a new idea. Earlier this year, Representative Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) proposed using SMRs as a scalable solution for data center power. At an April congressional hearing, Palmer noted that such reactors could power AI infrastructure for over a century but stressed the need for regulatory reform to enable their deployment.

Despite the ambitious objectives, questions remain about the practicality of implementing the directives. The U.S. nuclear sector has faced challenges recently, with plant closures and regulatory obstacles hindering growth.

Judi Greenland, President and CEO of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, welcomed the administration’s renewed focus on nuclear energy but raised concerns about capacity. “We applaud the Administration’s efforts to advance nuclear power development and deployment. However, achieving these goals will require adequate staffing and funding. Recent workforce reductions and planned budget cuts at the DoE risk undermining the very efforts these executive orders are intended to support.”