#nuclear-energy

#nuclear-energy

In recent years, particularly under the current administration as of early 2026, the U.S. government has shifted toward some direct equity investments and partnerships in strategic private companies, often framed as efforts to bolster national security, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains (especially from China), and support key industries like semiconductors and critical minerals. This approach has been likened across Wall Street to an informal "American sovereign wealth fund" and has led the government to acquire significant stakes in certain publicly traded firms.

In terms of making things happen, energy is an indispensable consideration. Systems spontaneously tend towards the lowest-energy state. When a system reaches equilibrium, no further energy can be extracted. That maximum entropy, lowest energy state is the inevitable end-state of the Universe. But until that moment arrives, reactions of all kinds will occur, continuing to liberate energy. In our bodies, chemical bonds break and reform: releasing energy.

Manuel Lozano Leyva, a Spanish physicist, emeritus professor and advisor to Spain's Council of Nuclear Security, turns 77 this year and says he's too old to be afraid of speaking his mind. Which is why he'll bluntly tell you that [Donald] Trump is deranged, advocate for the return of mandatory military service and defend nuclear energy. The grandson of a carriage driver from whom Lozano Leyva inherited

Trump has prioritized nuclear energy since he took office a year ago, issuing four executive orders in May to reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, reinvigorate domestic fuel chains, and deploy advanced reactors for national security. These include targets for 5 GW of upgrades at existing plants and 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030. Trump's Davos remarks elevated this agenda internationally, criticizing renewables while highlighting nuclear's role in reliable power.

This morning, the S&P 500 is up 17 points. The SPDR S&P 500 ( SPY) is up $2.55. The Dow is up about 100 points, as the tech-heavy Nasdaq tacks on 68 points. Most of these gains are attributed to speculation that job gains could prompt the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. That was after the December jobs report showed slight weakening, but a stable jobs market that could push the Fed to cut again.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

He came to power in 2019, promising to tackle state corruption. But he's found himself this week, uncomfortably close to a $100m corruption scandal. A group of officials, government ministers and businessmen are accused of arranging kickbacks using the state nuclear energy firm. One of them is the co-owner of the television production company founded by Zelenskyy.

"Before 2022, there had been the optimistic hope we had gotten past an era where it's all about enlarging territory and invading sovereign countries and we could live happily in peace having trade," says Sari Multala, Finland's Minister of Climate and the Environment. "But then, we understood that was not the case and that we had to take care of our own sovereignty, also when it comes to energy. We cannot depend on a hostile partner," she told DW.

But if look beneath the surface retail investors on Reddit, X, and other forums are keeping their bullish tone. At least as of today, they're viewing the dip as a buying opportunity. While these groups can get a fever and momentum all their own the fundamental belief that nuclear energy is the comeback kid of 2025 and beyond seems valid.

Qualcomm ( NASDAQ:QCOM) stands out as one of the lesser-appreciated semiconductor names as the AI revolution continues to play out, while other emerging tech trends also start to gain traction among growth and momentum-focused investors. Indeed, the AI race and the road towards AGI (or artificial general intelligence) seems to be on, with many hyperscalers signing deals or taking stakes in the great OpenAI, the firm that kicked off the AI boom when it unleashed ChatGPT to the world.

The move is expected to generate thousands of jobs and strengthen Britain's energy security. It is expected to be signed off during US President Donald Trump's state visit this week, with both sides hoping it will unlock billions in private investment. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the two nations were "building a golden age of nuclear" that would put them at the "forefront of global innovation".

Those in France at least will now be partly powered via a CAPN, in addition to long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Data4 already has in place for solar and wind energy. The contract involves a "cost and risk-sharing mechanism" based on the actual volumes of energy produced - a so-called behind-the-meter arrangement where it can secure energy at a reduced cost over the long term.

In 2024, nuclear reactors generated a total of 2,667 terawatt-hour (TWh) of electricity - more than any other year in history. Nuclear energy now provides about nine per cent of the world's electricity from about 440 power reactors worldwide, World Nuclear Association says. The organization calls nuclear power a 'reliable, long-term electricity supply', although it does controversially produce radioactive waste products.

Going nuclear-free would undermine national security,

Tim Gregory notes that the most climate-concerned environmentalists are often the least supportive of nuclear power, despite its potential to mitigate global warming through zero carbon emissions.

Westinghouse's HiVE GenAI system and its 'nuclear-aware' large language model, bertha, integrate with Google Cloud's technology to enhance nuclear reactor construction and operation.

The U.S. and Bahrain signed the agreement as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to enhance global energy security.

People have forgotten that nuclear power stands for dedicated dead zones with nuclear waste. People who are environmentalists have forgotten about all these things that their parents and their grandparents used to know. The new generations are not up to speed on nuclear power.