The US Department of Energy announced plans to provide up to 17.5 billion dollars in loans to support construction of large nuclear reactors, a major federal commitment to expanding domestic generation. Announced on June 23 2026, the American Nuclear Supply Chain Loans would help finance five projects sponsored by utilities and energy companies, backing the deployment of 10 large scale commercial reactors across the country and aiming to accelerate their arrival by up to three years.
The low interest loans, offered through the department Office of Energy Dominance Financing, are intended to fund critical components such as pressure vessels, steam generators, and main coolant pumps, easing supply chain bottlenecks that have slowed new builds. The program is part of a broader federal reorientation toward nuclear. The fiscal 2026 budget earmarked about 1.785 billion dollars for the Office of Nuclear Energy, and roughly 3.1 billion dollars was directed toward advanced reactor deployment and awards for next generation small modular reactors. Congress also provided funding toward loan guarantees for small and advanced reactors.
Officials frame the investment as a way to rebuild a domestic nuclear supply chain that atrophied during decades of limited construction. Supporters point to rising electricity demand, including from data centers, as justification for federal backing. The loans signal that the government intends to play a direct financing role in restarting large scale reactor construction in the United States.
Source: US Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-american-nuclear-supply-chain-loans