Government Policy Creates Perfect Storm
The Trump administration's nuclear executive orders from May 2025 have fundamentally changed the landscape. The new orders authorize the DOE and DOD to build reactors on federal lands specifically for AI data centers, mandate complete NRC reform, and establish new spent fuel recycling policies.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright's department will prioritize advanced nuclear energy efforts alongside fossil fuels, geothermal and hydropower. This policy support, combined with the urgent need for AI-ready power infrastructure, creates an ideal environment for nuclear companies to thrive with unprecedented regulatory certainty.
The Market Is Already Responding
Nuclear stocks have begun their meteoric rise as investors recognize the sector's potential. Oklo (OKLO) has reached all-time highs near $64.48 after completing a massive $440.6M secondary offering and winning an Air Force contract. NuScale Power (SMR) trades at $42.49, up 800% over 12 months, with Q1 revenue surging to $13.4M from $1.4M year-over-year.
Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE) recently closed a $105M private placement and added former Energy Secretary Rick Perry as Executive Advisory Board Chairman. The sector's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with annual nuclear investment needs expected to double to $120B by 2030 for rapid growth scenarios.
Tech Giants Go Nuclear: The Partnership Revolution
Major technology companies are now making concrete commitments that provide unprecedented revenue certainty for nuclear developers. Meta signed a new 1.1 GW agreement with Constellation in June 2025 and is seeking an additional 4 GW of nuclear capacity.
Amazon led a $500M funding round for X-energy and announced three separate SMR partnerships, while Microsoft's Three Mile Island restart progresses toward 835 MW by 2028. Google has committed to a 500 MW pipeline with Kairos Power through 2035. These partnerships represent a shift from speculative investments to guaranteed revenue streams.
Three Companies Leading the Nuclear Renaissance
The nuclear sector offers several compelling investment opportunities, each addressing different aspects of the AI power challenge. Constellation Energy (CEG) operates the largest fleet of nuclear plants in the United States and trades at $305.70, up 36% year-to-date following major tech partnerships.
NuScale Power (SMR) remains the only company with NRC-approved SMR designs and expects final approval by July 2025. Cameco (CCJ) at $69.25 controls critical uranium supply chains and expects a $170M EBITDA boost from its Westinghouse stake. These companies represent different parts of the nuclear value chain – from uranium production to advanced reactor technology to existing nuclear generation.
$278M
SMR market for data centers by 2033 (48.72% CAGR growth)
What This Could Mean for Investors
The convergence of AI power demands, transformative government policy, and concrete tech partnerships creates what may be a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity. With data center electricity consumption potentially growing 160% by 2030 and nuclear being the only viable 24/7 carbon-free solution, early investors in the right nuclear companies could see outsized returns.
The IAEA's high-case scenario projects nuclear capacity could increase 2.5x by 2050, from 371.5 GW to 950 GW globally. However, some SMR stocks showing massive gains may be overextended after 2024's historic run, suggesting careful timing and position sizing will be critical for new investors entering this rapidly evolving sector.