On January 1, Jim Barnette and Jim Reilly published "Expect Continued Momentum for Nuclear Power in 2025" in Law360. The following is an excerpt:
In the face of ever-increasing electricity demands across the country, the future is looking very bright for the U.S. nuclear energy industry. We review below recent policy and market developments that can inform what lies ahead for the industry.
In 2023, almost 19% of U.S. electricity came from 94 reactors with just under 100 gigawatts of installed nuclear capacity — a magnitude generally unchanged from 40 years ago. But last month, the Biden administration called for 200 GW of U.S. nuclear energy capacity to be on the grid by 2050 and published a framework for achieving that ambitious target.
The framework outlines strategies for expanding U.S. nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand by building large reactors, small modular reactors and microreactors; maximizing existing facilities; improving licensing; and strengthening supply chains and workforce development. As the Trump administration takes office, it will promote its own perspectives on nuclear energy's future. But the favorable outlook for nuclear energy is expected to continue in 2025 and beyond.
Click here to access the article.