The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $1 billion loan to Constellation Energy to restart one of the reactors at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility in Pennsylvania. This initiative is part of a larger strategy under the Trump administration to promote traditional energy sources, especially nuclear power, to address rising electricity costs in America.
Background on Three Mile Island
• Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant was shut down in 2019 but was never completely decommissioned.
• Constellation Energy plans to restart this reactor by 2027, renaming it the "Crane Clean Energy Center. "
Purpose of the Loan
• The DOE's loan aims to help bring reliable electricity back to the grid and support American manufacturing and technology competitiveness, particularly in artificial intelligence.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the importance of adding "dispatchable, reliable" electricity to prevent price increases and enhance electricity generation capacity.
Employment and Construction
• Restarting the reactor will require 600 to 700 workers and is expected to add nearly a gigawatt of power to the grid.
• A "parent guarantee" from Constellation will protect taxpayers financially in this project.
Energy Crisis Concerns
• Wright mentioned a report forecasting a significant risk of rolling blackouts by 2030 if reliable energy sources like coal and natural gas are phased out without replacements.
• Previous plans under the Biden administration included closing down a substantial amount of reliable power generation, which Wright critiques.
Shift in Energy Policy
• The article contrasts the Biden administration's focus on renewable energy sources like wind and solar with the Trump administration's support for traditional energy, particularly nuclear power.
• Increased energy demand is driven by onshore manufacturing growth, electrification, and the expansion of data centers for AI, according to recent reports.
Future Opportunities
• The DOE is interested in restarting more nuclear plants and is open to projects that can improve energy affordability, reliability, or security.
• Constellation’s CEO criticized past energy policies for not prioritizing nuclear energy, which he argues is crucial for grid security and air quality.
Regulatory Oversight
• Wright stated the Trump administration seeks to enhance the safety of nuclear operations while reducing bureaucratic obstacles.
The restart of the Three Mile Island reactor marks a significant policy shift towards conventional energy under the Trump administration, addressing rising electricity costs and aiming to enhance the reliability of the U. S. electricity grid. The loan to Constellation Energy reflects an effort to revive nuclear energy in light of increasing energy demands and concerns about future power shortages.
https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/18/trump-admin-three-mile-island-nuclear-department-of-energy-doe/
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