Authored by Ivan Maldonado via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
It may be premature to declare a resurgence of nuclear power in the United States, but there is a noticeable uptick in activity that is expected to lead to the development of a new generation of advanced nuclear plants and small modular reactors.
This is particularly relevant for major industrial energy consumers, including data centers, where there is a strong economic incentive to shift towards nuclear power instead of relying solely on natural gas and intermittent renewables.
In Illinois, Meta has recently entered into a long-term agreement to purchase nuclear power from Constellation’s Clinton nuclear plant, joining a series of agreements between major tech companies and the nuclear industry. Constellation has also announced plans to restart Three Mile Island Unit One in Pennsylvania and supply power to Microsoft under a 20-year contract. Google has also committed to financing the development of small modular reactors at three new nuclear sites in Oregon. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is planning to construct SMRs at its Clinch River site, and Kairos Power has designed an advanced molten salt reactor. Additionally, Amazon, Google, and Meta have pledged to triple nuclear energy globally by 2050.
Prioritizing nuclear power among our energy sources is crucial as it is the most reliable way to produce large amounts of emission-free electricity for AI-powered data centers, electric vehicles, and industries. However, the increasing demand for electricity and nuclear power raises a critical question: Who will supply the substantial amounts of uranium required to fuel nuclear plants?
Currently, 95 percent of the uranium used in U.S. nuclear plants is imported from other countries, with Russia and former Soviet States dominating the global market and driving domestic companies out of business. China is also rapidly expanding its influence in the global uranium supply chain. Despite ample domestic resources, the U.S. has become heavily reliant on imported uranium due to artificially low prices and policy barriers to domestic production.
While a uranium shortage may not be imminent, the long-term consequences of sourcing cheap foreign uranium instead of supporting U.S. mining companies are concerning, especially for national defense, including the Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. The nation’s 94 nuclear power plants also rely on a consistent supply of uranium.
America’s industries, including the defense sector, are facing significant challenges due to China’s restrictions on mineral exports, including rare earth metals. It is evident that the era of depending heavily on mineral imports must come to an end to safeguard the economy, energy security, and national defense.
Considering the risk of uranium import disruptions or price spikes, a government policy is necessary to address the threat to national security and the economy. President Trump has indicated that the Administration will formulate recommendations to revive and expand U.S. uranium production, signaling a positive step forward that must be followed by concrete actions.
The nation’s reliance on imported minerals, particularly from adversarial nations, poses a serious national security threat and could disrupt key sectors of the economy if domestic production is not bolstered soon. Therefore, the United States is now confronted with the monumental task of ramping up uranium production, diversifying supply chains to enhance national security, and doing so in a sustainable manner.
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