From: The Honest Broker - Substack

By: Roger Pielke Jr.

Date: June 15, 2026

Can America Build Nuclear Again? Part 1

Cost escalation in U.S. nuclear power was never inevitable — it reflected policy choice

 

In the United States, nuclear power plant construction costs escalated dramatically over decades. In today’s post I argue that those costs did not have to escalate but were the result of policy choices. We know that because some countries avoided a similar cost escalation as they built their nuclear fleets. Understanding that cost escalation was a policy choice is key to understanding options for the role of nuclear power in U.S. energy policy.

The figure below shows U.S. and China’s electricity generation from nuclear power from the 1970s. For the past two decades U.S. generation has plateaued, while China’s increased by almost 800% over the same period, from a very low base. At China’s current rate of nuclear plant construction, it may exceed U.S. capacity within a decade. Is the U.S. destined to fall behind China in nuclear energy? Can America build nuclear again? (continue reading)

 

Can America Build Nuclear Again? Part 1