Nuclear Power Expansion: A Trump Strategy for the Digital Economy

President Trump's executive orders aim to expand nuclear generation capacity in the US to meet increasing electricity demand and ensure grid reliability. Nuclear power plants can operate almost continuously for 80 years and are well-suited for 24/7 power needs of data centers and the digital economy.

President Donald Trump's executive orders, announced in May, have sparked a flurry of activity in the nuclear power industry, aiming to expand generation capacity to meet surging U.S. electricity demand and ensure grid reliability. Nuclear power plants can operate almost continuously for 80 years, making them an excellent fit for the 24/7 power needs of data centers and the AI-driven digital economy [1].

The latest development in this push is a landmark collaboration between Google, Kairos Power, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This partnership, announced on August 18, involves the deployment of an advanced nuclear plant in Tennessee Valley under a power purchase agreement (PPA) [2]. Kairos Power's Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, will deliver up to 50 megawatts (MW) of reliable, 24/7 energy to the TVA grid, powering Google's data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. This is the first deployment under Kairos Power's landmark deal with Google, which aims to enable 500 MW of new, advanced nuclear capacity by 2035 [2].

This agreement is significant as it marks the first time a U.S. utility has signed a PPA to buy electricity from an advanced, Generation IV reactor. The collaboration demonstrates TVA's commitment to integrating innovative, firm energy sources like Kairos Power's advanced nuclear technology to proactively support the development of new clean generation within its service territory [2].

Google, Kairos Power, and TVA aim to deliver an innovative solution for industrial energy users to meet their growing business needs responsibly while driving local economic growth and opportunity. This approach protects electricity customers by limiting development costs to first movers while helping to bring costs down for customers as additional units are delivered [2].

The deployment of advanced nuclear reactors is essential to U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership. The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance [2].

References:
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/08/25/trump-mogul-nuclear-power-industry/
[2] https://kairospower.com/external_updates/google-kairos-power-tva-collaborate-to-meet-americas-growing-energy-needs/
[3] https://www.tekedia.com/google-tva-and-kairos-partner-to-power-ai-data-centers-with-next-generation-nuclear-energy/