The Nuclear Moment Arrives

America’s power grid is officially maxed out. Electricity demand from data centers, cryptocurrency mining, AI workloads and advanced manufacturing has surged beyond what our existing infrastructure can reliably deliver. While an “all-of-the-above” mix of natural gas, solar, and wind remains essential, the most promising long-term solution is nuclear energy, the only scalable, 24/7, carbon-free source capable of meeting these demands sustainably and reliably. 

Where We Are Now

Nuclear power currently provides about 18% of U.S. electricity, generated primarily by reactors built decades ago. The last two years, however, have marked a turning point: Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia became the first new U.S. reactors in over 30 years, while several older plants are being extended or restarted, including Michigan’s Palisades facility. Momentum is accelerating. The ADVANCE Act of 2024 directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to fast-track advanced reactor approvals, while transferable clean-energy tax credits now allow developers to monetize incentives up-front. Together, these changes have unlocked private capital and begun dismantling decades-old regulatory barriers.

Who’s Building What

Over the next several years, nuclear reactor restarts and power-purchase agreements from existing plants are attempting to bridge the power gap until new technologies come online. The next generation of small and advanced reactors is already underway including those by TerraPower, GE Hitachi/ TVA, Oklo and others. Broad deployment won’t happen overnight. Most experts expect first units late this decade, and full commercial adoption by the mid-2030s once proven designs can scale and be replicated nationwide. These will add gigawatts of firm, carbon-free capacity just as AI-driven load peaks.

Why does this matter for CRE?

For data centers and high-load users, access to stable, carbon-free energy will dictate where new facilities can be built and which markets stay competitive. But even for traditional property types (industrial, office, retail, multifamily), uninterrupted, low-cost power is essential for operational resilience, tenant retention and ongoing feasibility. Properties located near nuclear-supported corridors could gain long-term pricing advantages while reliable, 24/7 energy will protect existing assets and future development from brownouts and rolling outages.

Bottom line is that nuclear energy is entering a new chapter that is cleaner, smaller, faster and finally financeable. As the U.S. grid strains under record demand, its resurgence offers a pivotal path toward long-term energy stability. For investors, developers and occupiers alike, reliable power will soon be as defining to a prime location as access, labor and logistics.