Senate Gives Trump Huge Win To Strengthen Energy Sector
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly this week to advance sweeping legislation designed to revitalize America’s nuclear energy industry, delivering a major policy win for the Trump administration’s push to restore U.S. energy dominance.
The nuclear package was paired with a separate bill reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration and extending critical grant programs for firefighters, helping secure broad bipartisan support. The final vote was 88–2, with only Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) opposing the measure.
The legislation fast-tracks the approval of new nuclear power plants as many existing facilities approach the end of their operational lifespan. It lowers licensing fees for energy companies seeking to break ground on new projects and directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to produce a report identifying ways to simplify and accelerate environmental reviews—long criticized as bloated and politically driven.
The vote aligns squarely with President Donald J. Trump’s second-term agenda, which has placed an aggressive emphasis on “unleashing American energy” and reversing decades of regulatory paralysis.
President Trump has already signed four executive orders instructing the NRC to streamline its regulatory framework and issue licensing decisions within 18 months, a dramatic shift from the years-long delays that have crippled the industry.
Once the global leader in nuclear design and construction, the United States has fallen behind as excessive red tape and runaway costs allowed China to seize the lead, building reactors at a record pace. Administration officials say the new reforms are aimed at reclaiming that lost ground.
The legislation also dovetails with budget language from the House of Representatives that preserves tax incentives for both new and existing nuclear facilities, provided construction begins before January 1, 2029.
Under the administration’s long-term strategy, domestic nuclear capacity is projected to triple over the next 25 years, expanding from roughly 100 gigawatts today to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
Momentum behind the policy accelerated further this week after the Department of Energy announced a $1 billion federal loan to help restart the long-idle nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. The facility is under contract to supply power to Microsoft data centers, reflecting growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
The restart directly supports President Trump’s dual priorities of expanding nuclear energy and positioning the United States to win the global AI race.
Three Mile Island was the site of the nation’s worst commercial nuclear accident in 1979, when Unit 2 suffered a partial meltdown. Unit 1, the plant’s remaining reactor, continued operating safely for decades before being shut down in 2019 due to financial losses and a lack of state subsidies.
The new federal loan is expected to significantly reduce financing costs for Constellation Energy, which owns the site and plans to restart the 835-megawatt reactor—enough to power approximately 800,000 homes.
The facility is scheduled to reopen in 2027 under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft. Constellation has already begun restoring major components, including the turbine, generator, transformer, and cooling and control systems, after committing $1.6 billion to the project. The site has since been renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center.
The loan is being issued through a $250 billion federal energy infrastructure initiative approved by Congress in 2022.
Rising electricity demand—driven largely by energy-intensive data centers—has renewed political and corporate interest in nuclear power, particularly as lawmakers seek carbon-free sources capable of delivering reliable baseload energy. Federal officials argue that reviving dormant nuclear plants is essential for grid stability, economic growth, and long-term climate targets.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright credited the administration’s leadership for the shift.
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership and the Working Families Tax Cut, the United States is taking unprecedented steps to lower energy costs and bring about the next American nuclear renaissance. Constellation’s restart of a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania will provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy to Americans across the Mid-Atlantic region. It will also help ensure America has the energy it needs to grow its domestic manufacturing base and win the AI race.”