U.S. Unveils $17.5 Billion Loan Plan for New Nuclear Reactors

WHO:

ABC News - Trump administration, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Dan Sumner (president and CEO of Westinghouse), seven utilities and energy companies.

WHAT:

ABC News - The Trump administration is providing $17.5 billion to develop 10 new large nuclear reactors.

ABC News - The nuclear plants could begin construction by 2030 and become operational in the mid-2030s.

ABC News - The Energy Department plans to select five sites, each hosting two reactors.

ABC News - The loans could speed up the development of these reactors by up to three years and lower construction costs.

ABC News - The goal is for all 10 reactors to be under construction by 2030.

ABC News - The utilities and Westinghouse are expected to contribute up to $5 billion in equity across the projects.

ABC News - The loans amount to $3.5 billion per project.

WHERE:

ABC News - The locations of the selected sites for the reactors have not been disclosed.

WHEN:

ABC News - Construction of the reactors could begin by 2030, with operations starting in the mid-2030s.

WHY:

ABC News - The initiative aims to meet the increasing power demand from massive data centers.

ABC News - President Trump set a goal of quadrupling domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years.

HOW:

ABC News - The federal financing will be used to purchase nuclear components with long lead times, not for construction loans.

ABC News - The reactors will use Westinghouse’s AP1000 design, which is considered robust and sound.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 19:41 UTC)

The Trump administration is investing $17.5 billion to develop ten new large nuclear reactors, with construction potentially starting by 2030 and operations expected to begin in the mid-2030s. The Energy Department plans to select five undisclosed sites, each hosting two reactors, and the initiative aims to meet the growing power demand from massive data centers while also working towards President Trump's goal of quadrupling domestic nuclear production over the next 25 years. Utilities and Westinghouse are anticipated to contribute up to $5 billion in equity across the projects, with federal financing primarily directed toward purchasing essential nuclear components.