U.S. Plans to Loan $17.5 Billion to Boost Nuclear Reactor Construction

---

Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

---

Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $17.5 billion conditional loan program to speed up the construction of 10 large U.S. nuclear reactors across five yet-to-be-identified projects by providing financing for specialized components. All five projects would utilize Westinghouse's AP1000 reactors.

---

New U.S. Nuclear Reactor Loan Program

The Trump administration plans $17.5 billion in conditional loans to speed up the construction of 10 large nuclear reactors across five yet-to-be-identified projects by providing funding to procure specialized components that take years to manufacture. It focuses on Westinghouse's AP1000s--the nation's flagship nuclear reactor.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are 129 capital nuclear-power projects in active development in the U.S., with an aggregate value of about $249 billion. Readers can find details--including construction schedules, investment values and necessary equipment--in a list of detailed project reports via IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database.

The low-interest loans, offered through the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF), will finance the purchase of specialized components that take years to manufacture--a major hurdle to building the AP1000s--the only licensed large-scale advanced commercial nuclear reactors operating in the U.S. Components include pressure vessels, steam generators and main coolant pumps.

The financing would support five projects with two reactors each. Each of the 10 AP1000 reactors would generate 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of power.

Westinghouse would partner with up to five eligible utilities or energy companies on the projects to procure the long-lead items at a fixed price. Each project would be jointly owned by Westinghouse and a utility or energy company partner.

The company already has signed letters of intent with seven potential partners, each with identified project sites.

Both Westinghouse and the partner are required to fully commit their project equity, $500 million each ($1 billion total per project), upfront prior to accessing DOE loan funds.

Wright did not disclose the locations of the candidate sites in a call with reporters and said no final decisions have been made on which sites will receive the loans. "They're geographically spread across the country," he said.

Purchasing for each project will be staggered based on the timing of equity commitments and other relevant factors. Westinghouse has signed letters of intent with seven potential partners, each with identified project sites.

For more information on the U.S. nuclear buildout, see May 5, 2026, article - U.S. Nuclear Renaissance Enters Steel-in-Ground Phase.

Westinghouse's Presence

Industrial Info Resources is tracking nearly $60 billion worth of active and proposed nuclear-energy projects across the U.S. that are set to use, or are considering the use of, Westinghouse's technology. Learn more from a detailed list of project reports.

Fermi America's multibillion-dollar data center and power complex in the Texas Panhandle includes the potential construction of four AP1000 reactors that would provide 4,000 megawatts (MW). Fermi has applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the reactor construction.

Dubbed the Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus (also known as Project Matador), the complex also will deploy wind, solar and natural gas, for a planned 11 GW of generation overall. The first phase of the data center construction is underway, while some gas turbines already are on site. Readers can view detailed information on the nuclear project as well as the overall construction.

For more information, see February 11, 2026, article - Fermi America Receives First Gas Turbines for Massive Texas Power-Data Center Project.

Meanwhile, Walmart Goes Nuclear

In other nuclear-power news, Walmart on June 23 signed a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement for offtake from Constellation Energy's Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois, which features two nuclear reactors, securing about 176 MW of generation. Readers can view a plant profile.

The power will directly support the retailer's grassroot high-tech perishable food distribution center under construction in Belvidere, Illinois.

Key Takeaways

• $17.5 billion in DOE conditional loans to procure specialized components for 10 large nuclear reactors across five unnamed projects, focusing on Westinghouse's AP1000 technology.
• One potential project site could be Fermi America's major data center and power generation complex (Project Matador) in Texas.
• Westinghouse's AP1000 reactors are the only licensed large-scale advanced commercial nuclear reactors operating in the U.S.

---

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).