"Manhattan Project 2" for Nuclear Energy Push

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Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order that would create a new nuclear “Manhattan Project” designed to help the US win the global race for artificial intelligence.

The order is expected to fast track the development of nuclear power stations in the United States, which would then supply the huge data centres required for AI.

The Trump administration is seeking ways to counter the “huge resources” being deployed by China to develop the nascent technology.

Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, warned earlier this year that the clamour to build the power sources required to meet the growing need from AI had become “Manhattan Project 2”, in reference to the country’s programme to develop atomic bombs during the Second World War.

He said: “It is critical, just like Manhattan Project 1, that the United States wins this race.

“China has huge resources. They are massively focused on artificial intelligence.

“If we don’t unleash American innovation and American entrepreneurs and American construction and bold moves, we will lose Manhattan Project 2.”

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The US was the first country to develop nuclear power and has 94 nuclear reactors, supplying 97 gigawatts of energy, which gives it the largest nuclear capacity in the world.

Technology companies including Microsoft and Google have embraced nuclear power as a way to meet their expanding energy needs as the US government seeks to catch up with the boom in demand.

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Trump is also expected to use the Defense Production Act, which dates back to the Cold War-era, to declare a national emergency over the US’s dependence on Russia and China for enriched uranium, which is crucial for nuclear power generation.

McKinsey predicted that power demand from US data centres will rise from 178 terawatt hours per year to 606 terawatt hours by the end of this decade. South Korea produced about 595.6 terawatt hours of electricity in 2024.

Data centres will go from consuming 4.3pc of all power in the US to 11.7pc, the consultancy predicted. Demand from data centres alone is forecast to be equivalent to the entire annual output of more than 70 nuclear power plants by 2030.

A draft summary of the executive order is also said to direct government agencies to permit new nuclear facilities. The departments of energy and defence will also be required to identify federal lands and facilities that can be used for nuclear deployment.

In the US nuclear power has bipartisan support, with Democrats in favour of building new reactors because it is virtually free from carbon emissions.

By contrast Republicans are supportive of new nuclear plants as they provide a reliable source of electricity compared to intermittent energy from wind and solar power, which rely on batteries to provide a consistent supply of power.

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