The rivalry between China and the United States transcends mere markets and tariffs, finding its battleground in the energy sector . Amidst the burgeoning impact of artificial intelligence , former President Donald Trump initiated an ambitious yet contentious plan to ensure an abundant and stable *electricity supply * for crucial infrastructures like military bases, laboratories, and data centers through nuclear energy .
An Explosive Plan. The Trump administration aimed to quadruple the country’s nuclear energy production. Central to this strategy is the intention to develop new reactors that would not rely solely on fresh uranium but would also incorporate recycled fuel from radioactive waste and surplus military plutonium . This innovative approach is aimed at fortifying national energy independence.
As the Washington Post articulated, this endeavor is framed as a “national security imperative.” The plan seeks to secure a reliable energy supply for sensitive infrastructure , which includes everything from military installations to AI data centers, thereby reducing dependence on imported fuels.
<img alt="A Microsoft Data Center in Mexico collided with the reality of the electricity network. Your solution: use gas generators" width="375" height="142" src="https://i.blogs.es/237971/centro-de-datos-microsoft-portada/375_142.jpeg"/>The Recycling Now an Ally. The Department of Energy has identified all usable uranium and plutonium within its inventories for potential reconversion into fuel. Notably, this includes plutonium from decommissioned weapons , which poses significant safety concerns. Startups like Oklo and Curio are currently exploring *pyroprocessing*, a method that utilizes molten salts and electricity to separate usable components from spent fuel. This technology is pitched as being safer, more economical, and less polluting than traditional methods.
Investors are taking note. Oklo, with backing from Sam Altman , founder of OpenAI , recently announced a significant investment of almost $1.7 billion in an advanced fuel center located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the same region where uranium was enriched for the Manhattan Project nearly eight decades ago.
Only the Tip of the Iceberg. In one of his executive orders, Trump mandated that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) complete any reactor licensing within 18 months , a process that previously stretched over a decade. The administration has further pushed for revisions to current radiation exposure regulations deemed “excessively cautious.”
The official announcement issued in May had specific deadlines: the Army must operate a reactor at a national base by September 2028, and the Energy Department is to inaugurate at least one advanced reactor within 30 months to cater to AI data center energy needs. As part of this initiative, plans also include the release of 20 tons of HIGH-LEU (highly enriched low enrichment uranium) for new reactors and the establishment of 20 international nuclear cooperation agreements in the current congressional session.
The Depth of the Matter. Despite the buoyant outlook from political and business sectors, many in the scientific community express skepticism regarding these initiatives. Ross Matzkin-Bridger , a former Department of Energy advisor, contends that this involves returning to technologies long deemed problematic. Fellow expert Ernest Moniz , ex-secretary of Energy, articulated concerns that recycling military plutonium could lead to heightened nuclear proliferation risks.
Similarly, Matthew Bunn from Harvard described the public’s acceptance of reprocessing plants as an unrealistic expectation, given their associated waste issues. Frank von Hippel , from Princeton, noted past failures, reminding us that civil recycling was abandoned during the Jimmy Carter administration after India leveraged such technology to develop its first nuclear bomb.
Not Everything is Warnings. For the White House, nuclear recycling is viewed as a crucial tactical tool. The statement asserts that AI data centers and military facilities require ” dense, safe, and resilient energy sources .” Supporters like Bradley Williams from the National Laboratory of Idaho argue that utilizing recycled plutonium might be essential for ensuring sufficient fuel supplies and that new processes are equipped with safeguards against military re-use of this material.
The Weight of Waste. The implications are far-reaching, as the United States currently harbors about 90,000 metric tons of spent fuel stored in containers across both active and decommissioned plants, according to the Washington Post . Recycling portions of this material could help alleviate a dilemma that has lingered for decades.
As the private sector moves into this field, Oklo has signed a contract with Switch , an operator of data centers, aiming to construct modular reactors that would supply up to 12 GW by 2044. The first reactor, named Aurora , is projected to open in 2027 , although it is worth noting that this agreement is not binding and their previous application was rejected by the NRC in 2022.
The Idea of Recycling is Not Unique. Several countries have recognized recycling as a potential route to greater energy independence. For instance, France has made progress in employing this method, supported by subsidies and rigorous security protocols. However, Japan faces delays and cost overruns with its Rokkasho Plant, which has yet to produce fuel despite decades of development.
In contrast, the United Kingdom has opted to abandon recycling entirely, with around 140 tons of civil plutonium designated for immobilization in a stable form for geological disposal at Sellafield . Similarly, Spain has reignited its plans for a deep geological repository, slated for 2073 , while using containers such as Hi-Storm FW for interim storage.
The disparity is pronounced; while some nations strive to repurpose nuclear waste, others choose to entomb it permanently, all seeking to prevent nuclear legacies from spiraling into perpetual crises.
Forecasts. The United States is betting on redefining historical nuclear recycling technologies as a cornerstone for energy security and a catalyst for advancing artificial intelligence. Advocates see this as a pivotal moment to reduce dependency on foreign resources, while critics harbor fears that we may relive the failures and dangers of past attempts. Caution is warranted: the last reactors connected in the U.S., specifically at the Vogtle Plant in Georgia, were plagued by seven years of delays and cost overruns of $17 billion .
Image: Oklo and Kelly Michals: The complexities of nuclear energy continue to evolve within the broader framework of international competition.