Now is a critical time to continue prioritizing clean, reliable, and affordable energy here at home, amid unrest overseas and volatile energy markets. Thankfully, Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, made possible by the strong leadership of the United States. President Donald Trump has put America in a strong position by making energy dominance a key pillar of his agenda since his first day in office.
Building upon the success of the first Trump administration, we should continue investing in all forms of energy, including small modular reactors, which can support remote communities with strong baseload power.
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In addition to investing in SMRs, our country needs to prioritize recycling advanced nuclear fuel to convert nuclear waste into clean energy. Safe and effective ways to recycle spent fuel exist through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Trump administration has shown a commitment to ensuring the United States is a leader in nuclear energy. President Donald Trump displayed this commitment, which was shown on full display during an Oval Office signing of four executive orders to streamline the approval and adoption of advanced nuclear power, including reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Several energy sector leaders joined the president and underscored the importance of domestic nuclear fuel leadership through the U.S. goals for clean energy, defense resilience, and critical infrastructure.
The United States has strongly supported small modular reactors, a vital component of U.S. national security since the 1950s, when they powered submarines. Today’s models are far more advanced and can power the electric grid and data centers. SMRs are downsized reactors that can offer a solution to our country’s grid vulnerabilities, which become apparent during extreme weather events, like the soaring temperatures currently being felt up and down the East Coast. Some states have made the mistake of being overly reliant on renewable energy, which only works when the sun shines and the wind blows.
With on-demand power, which SMRs offer, more power can come online faster. SMRs are fast and compact reactors capable of powering remote communities and providing strong, reliable baseload power. The U.S. has the world’s largest number of nuclear plants, providing 20% of its electricity generation. The industry is accelerating time-to-revenue, offering customers guaranteed, dispatchable clean energy.
INSIDE THE EFFORTS TO RESTART THE THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT
Our country is a pioneer in nuclear fuel recycling, which converts used nuclear fuel into clean energy. Through partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Labs, electrorefining-based technology recycles used nuclear fuel, a safe and tested departure from legacy reprocessing methods. We have enough energy in used fuel to power the country for over 150 years and solve waste challenges that have remained unresolved for decades. Today’s recycling techniques combine transuranic materials, which are inherently ‘proliferation-resistant.’
The Trump administration has shown strong leadership by speeding up the approval and adoption of advanced nuclear technology and implementing a much-needed reboot of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This significant step forward is an economical and common-sense solution to safely and reliably powering communities nationwide for decades.
Retired Col. Robert L. Maness is a 32-year U.S. Air Force combat veteran.