Trump administration commits $17.5 billion in loans for nuclear reactors to power AI data centers

The Department of Energy just put $17.5 billion on the table to build ten new nuclear reactors across the United States. The driving force behind this push isn’t national defense or climate goals. It’s the insatiable electricity appetite of AI data centers.

The DOE announced plans to offer loans of up to $3.5 billion per project for the construction of Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at five locations. Construction is targeted to begin by 2030, with reactors expected to come online by the mid-2030s.

The numbers behind the nuclear bet

Data centers accounted for roughly 4-5% of US electricity consumption in 2024. That figure is projected to balloon to nearly 15% by 2028.

The administration’s broader ambition is even more aggressive. Executive orders signed by President Trump on May 23, 2025 set a target to quadruple national nuclear capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts in 2024 to 400 gigawatts by 2050. That would require not just new builds, but power uprates at existing plants of at least 5 GW.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the initiative as essential for maintaining US dominance in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Seven companies have already expressed interest in participating, backed by utility equity contributions of up to $5 billion.

Why crypto miners are paying attention

No specific cryptocurrency tokens or blockchain projects were named in the DOE’s announcement. But the nuclear expansion carries significant implications for an industry that shares data centers’ core problem: it needs a lot of cheap, stable power.

Industry discussions have already been circulating around the potential for nuclear-powered mining facilities.

The obstacles ahead

Nuclear energy’s history in the US is littered with cost overruns, regulatory delays, and abandoned projects. The Vogtle plant in Georgia, which houses the only AP1000 reactors currently operating in the country, came in years late and billions over budget.

The administration is attempting to address this by streamlining regulatory processes and offering government-backed financing to de-risk private investment. The $3.5 billion per-project loan cap is designed to attract developers who might otherwise balk at the upfront capital requirements.

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