Here’s the short version: Washington has finally started clearing brush from the nuclear path – and that matters a lot for AI’s power needs and for where investors might focus next.
In July 2024, Congress passed – and the President signed – the ADVANCE Act, telling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline environmental reviews, cut or eliminate certain fees, and publish guidance for licensing microreactors within 18 months. In plain English: fewer hurdles, faster timelines, and more predictable costs for advanced nuclear.
You can also see momentum in the field. Vogtle Unit 4 in Georgia entered commercial operation in spring 2024, the first new U.S. reactor of the modern era. The NRC then approved NuScale’s uprated 77-MWe small-modular reactor design in May 2025, while TVA formally applied to build a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 at Clinch River. On the fuel side, the U.S. made the first domestic batches of HALEU and extended Centrus Energy’s authority to keep producing it – critical for many advanced designs. These aren’t “maybe someday” headlines; they’re real steps that shorten the road from concept to electrons.
Why this matters for AI: data centers are turning into electricity factories. The IEA projects global data-center consumption will more than double by 2030 to roughly 945 TWh, with AI the biggest driver. The U.S. Department of Energy cites EPRI estimates that U.S. data centers could reach up to 9% of domestic electricity by 2030. Utilities also report a tidal wave of interconnection requests, hundreds of gigawatts, as developers race to find firm, clean power. Nuclear’s round-the-clock output, tiny land footprint, and low carbon profile make it a compelling backbone for the AI era.
We’re already seeing the market connect the dots. In 2024, Microsoft signed a 20-year power deal with Constellation to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1 (renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center), adding ~835 MW of carbon-free capacity aimed at supporting digital growth, an unprecedented example of tech directly underwriting nuclear supply. Operations are targeted for the second half of this decade.
From an investor’s lens, think in buckets rather than one “nuclear trade”.
· Operators & regulated utilities. Companies that already run nuclear fleets (or commission new units) can benefit from premium, carbon-free baseload tied to long-term contracts with hyperscalers. Vogtle’s completion shows these projects can get over the goal line, albeit with lessons learned.
· Advanced reactor platforms. SMR vendors moving through licensing milestones may be positioned for multi-site replication once first-of-a-kind risk is retired; NuScale’s design approval and TVA’s BWRX-300 application are two concrete markers. Timing still matters; deployment won’t be overnight.
· Fuel supply chain (HALEU). Many advanced designs need HALEU, and domestic capability is still scarce. Policy support plus Centrus’s progress suggests this is a bottleneck worth watching. Supply-chain resilience could become a premium.
· Grid & equipment. AI load doesn’t move without transformers and transmission. Large manufacturers are scaling U.S. output to meet demand – another way to participate in the build-out that nuclear will feed into.
· Power offtake/PPAs with tech. The Microsoft-Constellation deal illustrates a template: long-dated contracts that can finance restarts or new builds. If that model scales, it could lower capital costs across the stack.
Risks? Policy is moving faster, but not “fast.” Construction timelines, interest rate sensitivity, and public acceptance still matter. Fuel standards, waste rules, and grid-connection queues are evolving. As with any theme, diversify across the ecosystem and size positions to your timeline. AI demand looks secular, but projects are lumpy.
A quality investment research firm can map these buckets to specific tickers or funds for you.
Evan R. Guido is founder of Aksala Wealth Advisors LLC, a 2018 Forbes Next-Gen Advisors List Member, and heads a team of financial strategists for clients who consider themselves the “Millionaire Next Door.” He can be reached at 941-500-5122; eguido@aksalawealth.com; 6260 Lake Osprey Drive, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240. Read more at finance.heraldtribune.com/category/ask-guido. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, a member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. The views and opinions in this article are those of Evan R. Guido and not of Cetera or its subsidiaries. These opinions are not intended to predict or depict performance of any investment and are subject to change. These views should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities and are purely for education and entertainment.
