The American nuclear renaissance is awakening. Recently, there were two major announcements showing continued nuclear momentum. First, the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office announced a $1 billion loan guarantee to restart a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, the Crane Clean Energy Center. In Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox and other officials announced plans for a nuclear energy facility in the Brigham City area as part of their “Operation Gigawatt” initiative. Gov. Cox has proven to be an amazing champion for nuclear energy as governor, and this is an exciting step in the right direction. The plan is for up to 10 small modular reactors for civilian and military use. The only problem: The first won’t be online until the early 2030s.
With AI demand coming online now and China growing its lead in the energy dominance race, we can’t wait until the 2030s. We need new energy generation online in the next four years. The solution is simple: We need to streamline permitting and put the onus on regulators to give yes or no answers to companies.
The rise of generative artificial intelligence and cloud computing has created a national surge in energy consumption. Data centers now account for around 4% of electricity use in the United States, and projections from the Energy Information Administration indicate that they could reach 8-11% by 2030. These facilities are continuously operating, which means that nuclear energy is an ideal energy source, and that is why we have seen so many hyperscalers working with nuclear companies.
Beyond strengthening America’s energy grid, advanced nuclear projects deliver transformative benefits to local communities. Utah understands this better than most. Here in Utah County, we have seen firsthand how access to reliable power has become the single biggest hurdle to economic development on the west side of the county. A modern nuclear facility would not only solve that constraint — it would also open the door to thousands of high-paying jobs for local families; broaden our tax base; and provide critical revenue for schools, infrastructure and public safety as our population continues to grow.
Communities that host nuclear facilities don’t just get clean, steady energy; they gain long-term economic stability and opportunity. That’s why Utah County would welcome the chance to partner in this next chapter of American energy leadership. Responsible nuclear development isn’t just an energy strategy — it’s a community prosperity strategy, and Utah is showing the nation what that future can look like.
While there is a significant amount of private investment (over $60 billion in 2025), the energy infrastructure needed to support the expansion is moving slowly. Developers can design and build a data center in 18-24 months, while a new transmission line or power plant to supply it may take six to 10 years to permit and build. This timeline overlap between the private sector and the government regulatory process is becoming one of the greatest challenges in energy policy.
Without new energy investments, this increasing demand raises the prices that are ultimately passed to consumers. Between 2024 and 2025, the national average residential electricity rates rose 6.6%, which increased annual household bills by around $160.
Luckily, there has been federal activity. For instance, the bipartisan SPEED Act bill narrows NEPA’s scope, codifies lead agency authority, limits remands and shortens statutes of limitations. This bill can lead to fewer repeated submissions and faster transmission and generation approvals.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) should replace its “as low as reasonably achievable” standard with linear no-threshold (LNT) modeling with risk-informed, performance-based frameworks.
In addition, states must remove bans on nuclear power and stop forcing the early decommissioning of plants. In New York, a state that prides itself on being “climate forward,” disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down Indian Point, increasing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. Now, his successor is exploring reopening the plant, with the back and forth paid for by taxpayers and rate-payers.
Other states can learn from the Utah nuclear energy model. The cornerstone of Utah’s strategy is the recently enacted Nuclear Power Amendments. This landmark legislation moves beyond rhetoric to create the essential institutional and financial architecture for energy dominance. It establishes the Nuclear Energy Consortium and the State Energy Council, bringing together key stakeholders to ensure a unified and coherent development strategy. In addition, Utah created a clear process for designating energy development zones and established two dedicated investment funds, the Energy Development Investment Fund and the Electrical Energy Development Investment Fund, to de-risk and incentivize projects, including advanced nuclear.
The state has also expanded the mandate of the San Rafael Energy Lab Board to formally include advanced nuclear research, ensuring Utah remains at the forefront of technological innovation.
The Nuclear Power Amendments build on reforms passed in 2024, when Utah added nuclear power to its high-cost infrastructure tax incentive, leveling the playing field and signaling to the market that all forms of clean, reliable power are welcome. The state also explicitly incorporated nuclear power into its strategic energy plan. This is further supported by the state energy office’s Strategic Nuclear Energy Pathway reports, which are proactively addressing key deployment issues like siting and fuel management.
Voters support policies to increase nuclear energy production. According to Rainey Center polling, tax incentives for companies that produce nuclear energy have robust support, with 68% of voters in support and only 16% opposed.
Recognizing that energy leadership requires collaboration, Utah is actively building powerful alliances at the local, regional and national levels. Operation Gigawatt, a statewide initiative launched in October 2024, sets a clear objective of doubling Utah’s power production within a decade, with nuclear and geothermal energy as central pillars of the strategy. Utah has joined with Idaho and Wyoming to align regional energy policy and the NASEO Advanced Nuclear First Movers Initiative.
Utah is a proven leader in America’s nuclear energy renaissance, and states should follow its wise example. However, to succeed, Utah needs the federal government to get out of the way. Recent actions from the Department of Energy are welcome, but more needs to be done. It’s time for a permitting revolution that can set the stage for American energy abundance.