New York is set to begin construction on the first major U.S. nuclear power project in over 15 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed the state’s public power authority to add at least one gigawatt of nuclear capacity—enough to electrify approximately one million homes. This move directly aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders aimed at launching a nationwide nuclear energy revival.
Signed on May 23, these orders seek to expand U.S. nuclear capacity threefold by 2050, streamline reactor approvals, bolster domestic uranium mining, recycle nuclear fuel, and train a new cadre of nuclear industry workers. They also call for integrating nuclear power into artificial intelligence data centers and military installations.
Interest in nuclear power has resurged due to price volatility, strained grids, and the limited reliability of renewables. California’s 2020 power shortages prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to admit that solar and wind alone were insufficient, saying, “We cannot sacrifice reliability as we move forward in this transition.”
Major tech companies are also backing nuclear expansion. Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have all pledged to increase nuclear capacity, citing its ability to fuel AI operations and data centers. Amazon has invested over $1 billion in nuclear projects, and Microsoft plans to restart the Three Mile Island reactor. Mark Zuckerberg has called nuclear energy the only viable power source capable of meeting AI’s growing demands.
Even Nvidia recently invested in TerraPower—a nuclear energy startup established by Bill Gates—to construct an advanced Natrium reactor, designed to ramp output and complement intermittent renewables.
Global consumers, however, have felt the costs of green energy transitions. A UK study showed household energy bills rose by £220 billion since 2006, and Spain had to reintroduce nuclear and gas plants after last year’s blackout.
While former President Joe Biden imposed restrictions on gas stoves and ceiling fans in the name of green policy, Trump’s 2025 energy agenda positions nuclear power as central, fast-tracking approvals, and urging its integration across key infrastructure sectors.
