Momentum is building for a US nuclear energy resurgence as the Trump administration expands Biden-era federal support for the sector, though experts and industry leaders warn that its revival depends on rebuilding fuel supply chains and workforce capacity and streamlining regulatory processes. Stable tax incentives, such as those offered by the now-threatened Inflation Reduction Act, are also necessary to help nuclear achieve parity with other generation sources.

China has become the first nation to refuel an operational thorium molten salt reactor, a major leap toward safer, more sustainable nuclear power. The 2-megawatt experimental reactor, located in the Gobi Desert and operational since June 2024, was developed using insights from decades-old declassified US research. The country is also building a larger 10-megawatt version, expected to reach criticality by 2030.

Energy Alberta has unveiled a proposal to build a large-scale nuclear power plant Northern Alberta's Peace River region, featuring up to four Candu reactors with maximum output of 4.8 gigawatts. The project is now under federal review by the Impact Assessment Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which are accepting public feedback through May 14.

The energy sector is seeing a surge in cyberattacks, with some incidents linked to nation-state campaigns, according to Resecurity researchers. Hacktivism and espionage from actors in Iran, China and North Korea pose threats. Technological transformations such as cloud adoption and AI integration have made systems more vulnerable, researchers say.

Power demand for data centers is expected to more than double by 2035 as demand for artificial intelligence continues to surge, reports BloombergNEF. Data centers currently account for 3.5% of power demand, but that is projected to rise to 8.6%. Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta and Microsoft currently account for 42% of data center capacity, with PJM Interconnection the largest power market for data center demand. The trend is complicating energy build out in PJM's region, with companies vying for locations that have available grid capacity or can connect quickly.

Wisconsin lawmakers and researchers are collaborating to make the state a hub for nuclear technology, particularly fusion energy, as the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Realta Fusion have partnered to develop a fusion device aimed at generating clean energy. The state government is advancing bills to support nuclear development, highlighting the potential for economic growth and sustainable energy solutions.

India is set to amend its nuclear liability laws to limit accident-related penalties for equipment suppliers. The changes will bring the country's laws in line with international standards, shifting safety responsibilities to operators instead of suppliers, thereby reducing the risks that have deterred companies like General Electric and Westinghouse Electric from entering the Indian market.

The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to submit a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by June for a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor at the Clinch River Nuclear Site. TVA's board has not yet authorized the deployment of an SMR at the site, but the permit application is seen as a way to mitigate licensing risks.