President-elect Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House comes at a critical moment for America’s energy future. As the demand for reliable power to fuel burgeoning technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing is expected to grow exponentially over the coming years, Trump’s administration is poised to prioritize good energy policy.
Trump’s first term and his record on supporting reliable nuclear power as a vital energy source provide cause for optimism about the new direction of U.S. energy policy. Within the first six months of his first term, Trump announced an initiative to unlock the power of American innovation on the industry, including reviving and expanding the nuclear energy sector.
In 2019, Trump’s Department of Energy finalized loan guarantees that totaled $12 billion to finance the construction of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. This was the first nuclear plant to begin construction in the U.S. in decades. Trump also issued a presidential memorandum to establish the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group, acknowledging the national security implications around the need to produce nuclear power.
Trump’s forward-looking approach also provided an important counter to China, which is aggressively expanding its industrial and technological infrastructure. The Trump administration took concrete action to restrict nuclear exports to China and was successful in convincing allies to buy nuclear technology from America rather than China.
Many Democrats in Washington want to believe that their green agenda is the only way forward, but most Americans understand that powering AI and other future technologies with only solar and wind power is a fantasy. Nuclear power is a reliable, clean, and emissions-free energy source that can provide the amount of power America needs.
To ensure a secure energy future, the Trump administration should prioritize protecting existing nuclear capacity and expanding it through new plants or by reviving shuttered plants. This two-fold strategy will provide the additional around-the-clock power needed to support technological innovation and global economic leadership.
Energy policy is inextricably tied to America’s technological future and global economic leadership. Protecting existing nuclear capacity and expanding it means we can power more AI, more quantum computing, and more technological innovation at home, all with power that runs around-the-clock in every weather condition.