The Trump administration is backing American energy independence with a $1 billion federal loan to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear reactor, marking a decisive shift from the Biden era’s failed green energy policies toward reliable nuclear power.
Story Highlights
- Department of Energy approves $1 billion loan to restart Three Mile Island’s mothballed nuclear reactor.
- Microsoft secured a 20-year power agreement for data centers, demonstrating private sector confidence.
- The 835-megawatt reactor will power the equivalent of 800,000 homes when operational in 2027.
- The move aligns with the Trump administration’s priorities of bolstering nuclear power and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Trump Administration Champions Nuclear Renaissance
The Department of Energy’s $1 billion loan to Constellation Energy represents a stark departure from the previous administration’s misguided energy policies.
This strategic investment will help restart Three Mile Island’s functioning nuclear reactor, which has remained dormant since 2019 when Obama-era regulations and state government interference forced its closure.
The Trump administration recognizes nuclear power as essential for American energy dominance and technological advancement.
The Trump administration will give Constellation Energy a $1 billion federal loan to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania that suffered a partial core meltdown in 1979. https://t.co/93eO0vEwTq
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 18, 2025
Private Sector Partnership Drives Economic Growth
Microsoft’s 20-year power purchase agreement demonstrates how free market solutions can revitalize American infrastructure without relying on government handouts.
The tech giant’s commitment to buy power from the restarted reactor provides the financial foundation for Constellation Energy’s $1.6 billion investment in the project.
This public-private partnership exemplifies conservative principles by leveraging federal resources to enable private sector success rather than picking winners and losers through subsidies.
Overcoming Previous Policy Failures
The reactor’s 2019 shutdown under Exelon highlighted the destructive impact of short-sighted energy policies and state government negligence. Pennsylvania lawmakers’ refusal to support the facility’s continued operation cost the state reliable baseload power and hundreds of jobs.
Now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, the facility will undergo comprehensive restoration of critical systems including turbines, generators, and cooling systems, with operations targeted for 2027.
Strategic Infrastructure Investment
The loan utilizes Congress’s existing $250 billion energy infrastructure program, originally authorized in 2022, demonstrating responsible use of taxpayer resources for genuine national priorities.
Unlike the Biden administration’s wasteful spending on unreliable renewables, this investment supports proven nuclear technology capable of providing consistent power for growing energy demands.
The 835-megawatt capacity will serve approximately 800,000 homes while supporting America’s artificial intelligence capabilities and data center infrastructure essential for maintaining technological superiority.
