• Trump signed executive orders to boost U.S. nuclear energy production significantly.
• The orders aim to streamline licensing approvals to a maximum of 18 months.
• Projected nuclear production target includes a fourfold increase within 25 years.
• Focus on advancing nuclear technology to meet rising energy demands from AI and data centers.
• Concerns raised about regulatory rollbacks affecting safety and efficiency.

On Friday, President Trump signed a series of executive orders designed to accelerate the development of nuclear energy in the United States, a move aimed at "ushering in the American nuclear renaissance." The initiatives include rolling back regulatory hurdles that have historically slowed the construction of new nuclear reactors and the licensing process, which can take over a decade, according to Reuters and CBS News.

The new executive orders aim to cut the licensing process for new reactors to 18 months, a significant reduction from typical timelines, with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stating that this could "turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation" in the nuclear industry. Burgum emphasized that this shift is critical in addressing the growing energy needs driven by data centers and artificial intelligence technology, as noted by Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

Trump's administration envisions a fourfold increase in nuclear power production over the next 25 years, a goal that many experts consider ambitious given the limited advancements in the construction of new reactors. As per current data, the U.S. has 94 operational reactors generating about 19% of its electricity, with only two new large reactors added over the past five decades. The administration's optimism stems from a growing bipartisan acknowledgment of nuclear energy's role in achieving energy security and reducing emissions, according to New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

The orders also propose reorganizing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to expedite its processes effectively transferring some authority from this independent agency to the Energy Secretary. This has raised concerns among safety advocates regarding the potential risks associated with accelerated approvals, echoing fears that safety measures could be compromised, as discussed by sources like Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

Despite the push for increased nuclear energy, critics express skepticism about the feasibility of achieving such ambitious goals within the specified timeframe. The comparative inactivity in establishing new reactors—only two large new projects completed in nearly fifty years—suggests that the targets set forth may be overly optimistic, according to India Times and Reuters.