“Today we’re celebrating a historic milestone for civilian nuclear energy and the incredible renaissance of nuclear power in America.”
On Friday, President Donald Trump delivered remarks as he gathered with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, along with heads of nuclear energy companies looking to revive America’s nuclear energy industry. He announced that in the past year, the US has completed four additional nuclear reactors that have reached criticality.
Trump, as well as the officials, touted the administration’s accomplishment of reaching criticality with four nuclear reactors after having a goal of just three. Criticality means that the nuclear reactor is self-sustaining in its energy production, creating a smooth flow of energy.
“Today we’re celebrating a historic milestone for civilian nuclear energy and the incredible renaissance of nuclear power in America,” Trump said as he was flanked by the officials in the Oval Office.
“As part of this effort, I directed Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to establish a pilot program for advanced reactors and see at least three cutting-edge reactors started up safely by the Fourth of July, and what we’ve done has been pretty much of a miracle. Most believe the goal was impossible, but I’m delighted to say that four companies succeeded in meeting that deadline for the greatest in the world at this subject,” he added.
He said that the administration was only able to do so with the help of the nuclear companies represented in the room and later added, “America is building again. America is dreaming again, and we’re leading the world in pioneering the next generation of nuclear power.”
Valar Atomics CEO Isaiah Taylor complimented Trump, saying that the US is once again becoming a leader in the nuclear industry. “Over the last 30 years, we became more interested in PowerPoint than in power plants, and it’s your leadership that is changing that.”
Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for the Trump administration, said that the last time there was a nuclear reactor that reached criticality was in 1974.
Multiple nuclear company CEOs said that Trump’s leadership and his use of executive orders have allowed for the industry to start thriving.