Trump’s nuclear push gains steam as Westinghouse announces plan to build 10 nuclear reactors by 2030
By isabelle // 2025-07-16
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  • Westinghouse Electric Company plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in the U.S. by 2030, boosting energy capacity and creating thousands of jobs.
  • The $75 billion project, announced at a Pittsburgh energy summit, aligns with Trump’s push for nuclear expansion and deregulation.
  • Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor, now under new ownership, promises faster, safer, and more efficient nuclear power deployment.
  • The initiative will inject billions into the economy, with Pennsylvania alone gaining $6 billion and 15,000 jobs.
  • Despite past setbacks, modern reactor designs and AI-driven construction aim to overcome regulatory delays and public skepticism.
Westinghouse Electric Company has unveiled plans to build 10 large-scale nuclear reactors across the United States, with construction set to begin by 2030. Interim CEO Dan Sumner delivered the announcement directly to President Donald Trump during a high-profile energy roundtable in Pittsburgh this week, marking a major step toward fulfilling Trump’s executive orders to quadruple U.S. nuclear power capacity by 2050. The reactors, each capable of powering more than 750,000 homes, promise to inject $75 billion into the national economy while creating thousands of high-paying jobs, proving that American innovation, when freed from bureaucratic strangleholds, can still lead the world. The announcement came at Sen. Dave McCormick’s Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University, where tech and energy leaders pledged over $90 billion in new investments for data centers and power infrastructure. For Trump, who has long championed nuclear energy as a cornerstone of U.S. energy dominance, the Westinghouse plan is a validation of his deregulatory agenda. "I signed historic executive orders to expedite construction of brand new nuclear power plants, which is very hot," Trump told the crowd. "We've issued an order, as you know, one month ago, making it very easy and very safe to build nuclear power."

A comeback for American nuclear energy

Westinghouse’s resurgence is nothing short of remarkable. Just seven years ago, the company filed for bankruptcy after its AP1000 reactor project at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle spiraled $18 billion over budget and fell seven years behind schedule in a disaster blamed on regulatory ineptitude and cost overruns. Now, under new ownership by Canadian uranium giant Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management, Westinghouse is betting big on a streamlined, AI-driven approach to nuclear construction. The AP1000, the only fully licensed and construction-ready modular reactor in the U.S., is central to this revival. Sumner emphasized that the reactor’s design allows for faster, more efficient deployment. "Our AP1000 technology is the quickest way to add new sources of affordable and abundant nuclear energy to the U.S. grid," he said. With each reactor generating massive baseload power without carbon emissions, the project aligns with both economic and environmental priorities, offering a clean alternative to the unreliable wind and solar projects pushed by the green energy lobby.

Economic boom and energy security

The economic impact of Westinghouse’s plan cannot be overstated. Pennsylvania alone stands to gain $6 billion and 15,000 jobs, with nationwide benefits reaching $75 billion. In an era of deindustrialization and outsourcing, nuclear energy offers a path to reclaiming America’s manufacturing might. Unlike fleeting green energy subsidies, which vanish the moment taxpayer funding dries up, nuclear plants provide decades of stable, high-wage employment. Critics will inevitably dredge up the ghosts of Three Mile Island or Fukushima, but the facts are clear: Nuclear power is among the safest energy sources per unit of electricity produced. Modern reactor designs like the AP1000 incorporate passive safety systems that require no human intervention to prevent meltdowns. Meanwhile, the U.S. nuclear fleet has operated for decades without a single fatality, in dramatic contrast to the environmental and health toll of fossil fuel extraction. Trump’s executive orders, which demand a "wholesale revision" of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules, are long overdue. For too long, red tape and activist obstruction have stifled nuclear development, forcing the U.S. to build just two new reactors in 30 years. By streamlining approvals and prioritizing innovation, the administration is finally unleashing America’s energy potential. The challenges remain formidable. Public perception, shaped by decades of anti-nuclear fearmongering, must be overcome. And while AI can mitigate construction risks, Westinghouse must prove it can deliver on time and on budget. Yet the alternative—continued reliance on foreign energy or intermittent renewables—is far riskier. Sources for this article include: CNBC.com WestinghouseNuclear.com WTAE.com
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