Trump Administration Taps Oklo, X-Energy in $200M Push to Speed Nuclear Reactors for AI Data Centers

What happened

The Trump administration on July 21, 2026 announced a $200 million program coordinated by the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the design, licensing, and construction of nuclear reactors for AI data centers.

Context and impact

The program responds to rapidly growing electricity consumption by data centers — estimated to account for a fifth of total US consumption by 2035. Nuclear energy is emerging as a key source for carbon-free AI infrastructure power. The initiative builds on existing Microsoft contracts with nuclear plants.

Details

• Program size: $200 million
• Participating companies: Oklo, X-Energy, Microsoft, Nvidia, and 20+ others
• Coordination: US Department of Energy (DOE)
• Goal: reduce reactor construction time and staffing requirements
• Market reaction: Oklo +9.9%, X-Energy +12% in extended trading