US nuclear reactor loan plan revives debate over energy and climate
Trump administration announces $17.5bn in loans for 10 new large reactors, putting nuclear power back at the centre of arguments over climate goals and grid reliability.
Rajan Mehta
Writer ·
The Trump administration has announced $17.5bn in loans for 10 new large nuclear reactors, putting nuclear energy back at the centre of debate over the country's power supply.
Nuclear back in focus
The plan revives arguments over climate goals, grid reliability, industrial policy and the construction risk that has dogged large reactor projects, alongside the role of federal backing for major infrastructure.
The trade-offs
Supporters point to nuclear's low-carbon, round-the-clock output, while critics question the cost, timelines and history of overruns on big builds. The loans signal a clear bet on atomic power as part of the energy mix.
What happens next
Attention now turns to which projects secure the funding and whether the programme can deliver new capacity on time and on budget, a test that will shape the wider nuclear debate.
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