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AI data centers spur US push for next-gen nuclear power
MIT Energy Initiative estimates US data centers accounted for more than 4.0% of total electricity in 2023, with a projected rise to 9.0% by 2030.
OilPrice reports that the AI boom is accelerating development of next generation nuclear energy technology, with Big Tech and private equity backing research aimed at enabling round the clock clean power.
The outlet points to the growing electricity needs of hyperscale data centers, citing MIT Energy Initiative estimates that data centers consumed more than 4.0% of the United States total electricity in 2023 and could reach 9.0% by 2030.
OilPrice adds that the scale of demand is pushing energy producers to expand capacity quickly while still meeting climate goals, and that venture capital funding is increasing for both nuclear fusion and fission startups.
According to a report cited by OilPrice from Axios, global investment in fission and fusion has topped $4.5 billion across 81 companies in 2026 so far, which the article says would exceed the prior annual record of $6.2 billion for 93 companies in 2025.