U.S. Nuclear Comeback Faces AI Demand

U.

S. nuclear power is seeing renewed attention as states, utilities, and technology companies look for firm low-carbon electricity to meet climate goals and rising demand from AI data centers. The dominant pattern is not a wave of entirely new plants, but a mix of reactor restarts, life extensions, uprates, and early bets on advanced designs. The debate remains split between supporters who see nuclear as hard to replace for reliable clean power and critics who point to high costs, safety concerns, and waste. Federal backing, shifting public opinion, and large tech-company power deals are reinforcing the comeback narrative, even as timelines and economics remain uncertain.