Trump Hosts Nuclear CEOs for Advanced Reactor Milestone
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of four advanced nuclear reactor companies at the White House on Friday to tout their technology hitting a crucial milestone.
Chief executive officers of privately held Antares Nuclear Inc., Deployable Energy, Aalo Atomics and Valar Atomics Inc. were in the Oval Office after their reactors reached “criticality.” The achievement occurs when a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining enough to produce a steady release of energy.
They represent the first privately-funded, non-light water advanced reactors to turn on in the US in more than four decades, according to the White House.
“America is building again, America is dreaming again,” Trump said in his opening remarks.
The four companies are part of Energy Department pilot programs that aim to expedite development of nuclear technology and demonstrate its viability.
The Trump administration is seeking wider deployment of both large, conventional reactors and smaller ones alike after a series of executive orders by the president. Trump sees nuclear reactors as a key source of power for data centers and economic growth.
The executives each spoke during the press conference to credit the president’s orders as being crucial for developing their reactors.
(Updates with Trump quote in fourth paragraph)
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