Why Small Modular Reactors Are Becoming a National Security Priority
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The United States is aggressively pivoting its energy policy, elevating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) from a niche power solution to a critical national security imperative, driven by the escalating technological and industrial competition with China and surging domestic demand from AI data centers. Just this April, TerraPower broke ground on its Natrium plant in Wyoming, marking the first utility-scale advanced nuclear plant in the US, while the Department of the Air Force recently tapped companies to deploy microreactors at key military installations by 2030, fundamentally reshaping how America powers its defense and critical infrastructure. This strategic shift comes amidst a stark reality check: China's Linglong One SMR achieved commercial operation in early 2026, granting Beijing a significant lead in deploying fourth-generation nuclear technology globally and intensifying the 'SMR race' for geopolitical influence and energy infrastructure dominance. Washington's push, underscored by President Trump's executive orders and massive federal funding, aims to bolster energy resilience for military bases, enable semiconductor manufacturing, and ensure continuous power for energy-intensive AI and defense operations, which are increasingly vulnerable to grid disruptions and geopolitical supply shocks. Looking ahead, the next few years will test America's ability to bridge this nuclear deployment gap. While companies like NuScale Power, with its sole NRC-approved SMR design, face long commercialization timelines into the 2030s, the immediate focus is on accelerating regulatory approvals, strengthening domestic supply chains, and exploring innovative fuel solutions, including the potential use of plutonium from Cold War-era warheads. The Department of Energy ongoing pilot programs and the Defense Department's microreactor initiatives signal a concerted effort to catch up, but the true measure of success will be rapid, widespread deployment to secure both national interests and global technological leadership.