At the center of this progress is the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a research facility in the Idaho desert, AFP reported. Although the site appears ordinary from the outside, it has become the hub of America’s nuclear innovation, protected by strict security checkpoints, armed soldiers and signs warning of radioactivity.
On June 4, startup Antares became the first company in nearly five decades to run a newly designed nuclear reactor in the country. Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares, called the development “the first real moment in this new nuclear renaissance” for the country, as per AFP.
A new generation of small nuclear reactors is up and running — or nearly so — in the United States, in what backers are calling a turning point for the industry. https://t.co/vQp61RV5y9 pic.twitter.com/2ifrGPvgiK
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 29, 2026
Another company, Aalo Atomics, is expected to reach the same milestone in the coming days. The company is part of a nuclear development programme launched in 2025 under President Donald Trump and aims to achieve the feat just hours before July 4 and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Meanwhile, on June 18, Valar Atomics successfully reached criticality at its reactor in Utah. Criticality is the stage at which a nuclear reactor becomes capable of sustaining its own nuclear chain reaction. The Idaho National Laboratory has played a key role in advancing nuclear technology for decades.
After developing more than 50 reactor prototypes, including the world’s first reactor to generate electricity for the power grid in 1951, research slowed following the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.
However, the war in Ukraine and the expansion of artificial intelligence increased pressure on the energy sector. In response, both the Biden and
Trump administrations moved to revive civilian nuclear power.
The focus of this revival is on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with billions of dollars from both government and private investors committed to their development. These compact reactors are small enough that one was transported to the site using a pickup truck.
SMRs can provide a more affordable and faster-to-build source of nuclear power. They can also be deployed in a wide range of locations, including remote military bases and large data centres.
However, the technology has not yet been proven on a commercial scale, and some experts question whether it can compete with wind and solar energy on cost.
In addition to funding, the government has given selected companies access to the Idaho National Laboratory’s facilities and experienced staff. The new reactors use technology that differs from conventional nuclear plants, reducing the risk of major accidents while making the reactors simpler and less expensive to build.
Speaking at a ‘celebration of the golden age of nuclear energy’ in Idaho Falls, Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed confidence about the future. “We’ll have hundreds by the end of the decade. In fact, our aggressive goal is we will have some of these reactors producing electricity for beneficial use next year,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
If development continues as planned, Radiant Nuclear and Antares will deploy their first SMRs at US military sites, while Aalo Atomics plans to supply power to data centres. Wright said many countries are showing interest in American nuclear technology and predicted it “will be a massive American export a decade from now.”
