U.S. President Trump Poised to Sign Executive Order Promoting Nuclear Power

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as May 23 (local time) to streamline the approval process for new nuclear reactors and strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain, aimed at revitalizing the nuclear power industry, Reuters reported on May 22 (local time).

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) causing the fastest increase in power demand in 20 years, Trump declared an “energy emergency” on his first day in office.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright likened the race to develop energy sources and data centers for AI to “Manhattan Project 2,” referring to the U.S. atomic bomb development project during World War II.

According to the draft executive order, Trump plans to declare a national emergency over U.S. dependence on Russia and China for enriched uranium, nuclear fuel processing, and advanced reactor materials. The order is also expected to direct government agencies to approve new nuclear facilities and designate sites, with the Departments of Energy and Defense utilizing federally owned land and facilities for nuclear power plant deployment and streamlining construction procedures.

Furthermore, the Department of Energy is recommending the use of loan guarantees and direct loans to expand reactor construction. Trump previously utilized a loan program to support a large nuclear power plant in Georgia during his first administration. While this loan program can now manage funds worth hundreds of billions of dollars thanks to legislation passed during the Biden administration, it suffered setbacks due to significant staff reductions in Trump’s second term.

It is worth noting that the exact wording and content of the draft executive order are still subject to change, with the possibility of some elements being deleted or modified during the review process, drawing attention to the final version.

Although the United States pioneered nuclear power and has the world’s largest nuclear power capacity, China has recently shown the fastest growth in the nuclear sector.

The Trump administration has been discussing four draft executive orders to promote nuclear power, including measures to facilitate easier reactor approval by the administration and reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a five-member commission with reactor approval authority.

Nuclear power enjoys bipartisan support, with Democrats backing it for its near-zero carbon emissions and Republicans for its ability to provide stable power. However, concerns remain high due to the generation of radioactive waste and the lack of a permanent storage site for this waste in the United States.