U.S. Offers $17.5 Billion in Loans for Nuclear Reactors to Power AI Computing

Power demand from U.S. AI data centers is rising rapidly. The Department of Energy estimates that their share of nationwide electricity consumption, which stood at 4% to 5% in 2024, could nearly triple as early as 2028. Because nuclear plants can provide stable baseload power around the clock, the Trump administration sees expanding large reactors and rebuilding the domestic nuclear supply chain as key to supporting growth in AI computing and overall electricity demand over the next decade.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the American Nuclear Energy Supply Chain Loan Program on June 23, 2026, conditionally offering up to $17.5 billion for as many as five projects to procure long-lead equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and steam generators. The initiative is intended to advance 10 Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, each with 1.1 GW of capacity. Construction is targeted to begin before 2030, with power generation scheduled for the mid-2030s, potentially shortening development timelines by up to three years.