101 - The Secretary of Energy

The United States Department of Energy under Secretary Chris Wright issued a call today to state governments for expressions of interest in creating integrated nuclear innovation campuses. According to Rigzone, this request for information marks the first step toward voluntary federal-state partnerships to advance regional economic growth, enhance national energy security, and build a full nuclear energy strategy. These campuses could host activities across the nuclear fuel lifecycle, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing of used fuel, and waste disposition, as well as advanced reactor deployment, power generation, manufacturing, and data centers.

The initiative aligns with President Donald Trumps executive order from May twenty-three, twenty twenty-five, aiming to expand United States nuclear capacity from one hundred gigawatts to four hundred gigawatts by twenty fifty. States are asked to outline priorities like workforce development, infrastructure, economic diversification, and needed funding or incentives.

Earlier this month, on January five, Secretary Wright announced two point seven billion dollars in awards to American Centrifuge Operating, General Matter, and Orano Federal Services for low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium production. Rigzone reports Wright stating these awards commit the administration to restoring a secure domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, transitioning away from foreign sources like China and Russia, which currently dominate high-assay low-enriched uranium at commercial scale.

In related news, a United States federal court ruled Friday that the Department of Energy violated federal law by forming a climate science advisory group without public notice or meetings. Reuters reports the Environmental Defense Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists sued, arguing the secretive group produced a biased report influencing climate regulation efforts. Energy Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich responded that the groups sought to silence scientists noting unsettled climate science, with the report still public.

The Department also extended an emergency order to prevent blackouts in New England ahead of a second winter storm, as reported by Press Release Point.

These moves highlight Secretary Wrights focus on bolstering nuclear energy and domestic supply chains amid legal and weather challenges.

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The United States Department of Energy under Secretary Chris Wright issued a call to state governments today for expressions of interest in creating integrated nuclear sites, known as Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. According to the Department of Energy online statement, these voluntary federal-state partnerships aim to advance regional economic growth, enhance national energy security, and build a full nuclear energy strategy across the fuel lifecycle, including fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing of used fuel, and waste disposition. The sites could also support advanced reactor deployment, power generation, manufacturing, and data centers, depending on state priorities like workforce development and infrastructure.

Rigzone reports that states are asked to outline their visions, funding needs, risk sharing, incentives, and federal partnerships required. This move aligns with the Trump administration's push to expand United States nuclear capacity from 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050, following a May 2025 executive order.

Earlier this month on January 5, Secretary Wright announced 2.7 billion dollars in awards to American Centrifuge Operating, General Matter, and Orano Federal Services for low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium production. The Department of Energy stated this restores a secure domestic fuel supply chain, reducing reliance on China and Russia, the only countries producing high-assay low-enriched uranium at commercial scale today per the World Nuclear Association.

In related news, a United States District Court ruled Friday that the Department of Energy violated federal advisory committee laws by forming a secret Climate Working Group of skeptics. Reuters reports environmental groups like the Environmental Defense Fund sued, claiming it influenced efforts to repeal climate regulations. Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich defended the group, saying it highlighted unsettled climate science.

These developments highlight Secretary Wright's focus on nuclear expansion amid legal challenges.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright is driving bold changes in nuclear energy and grid reliability. On January 28, the Department of Energy issued a request for information inviting states to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. According to the Department of Energy, these campuses would focus on nuclear fuel fabrication, enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, separations, and radioactive waste management to build a domestic nuclear fuel cycle. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated, unleashing the next American nuclear renaissance will drive innovation, fuel economic growth, and create good-paying American jobs while delivering the affordable, reliable, and secure energy America needs to power its future. The Department of Energy news release reports the deadline for responses is April 1 via SAM dot gov.

National Public Radio reports the Trump administration secretly rewrote Department of Energy nuclear safety rules over the fall and winter to speed up construction of experimental commercial nuclear reactors by July 4. The changes cut hundreds of pages of requirements on safety systems, environmental protections, site security, and accident investigations, including ending the ALARA principle to reduce radiation doses as low as reasonably achievable. Critics like Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists warn it takes a wrecking ball to the system of nuclear safety and security regulation oversight. The Department of Energy defends the revisions, saying the reduction of unnecessary regulations will increase innovation without jeopardizing safety.

E and E News reports a new fiscal 2026 spending minibus package provides Department of Energy with 49 billion dollars, boosting advanced nuclear reactors by shifting over five billion dollars from prior programs like carbon management. Geothermal funding rises 27 percent, a priority for Wright.

Amid a deep freeze from Winter Storm Fern, Wright issued emergency orders on Monday to PJM Interconnection and Duke Energy, allowing data centers to use backup diesel generators despite air pollution rules. E and E News says this prioritizes grid reliability, potentially exposing communities to emissions, as Wright noted 35 gigawatts of idle generators are too valuable to waste.

The Department of Energy also announced a realignment of its Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation to focus on pressing energy challenges.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright took swift action over the past few days to protect power grids battered by Winter Storm Fern. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that on January 26, 2026, Secretary Wright issued two emergency orders to deploy backup generation in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas, aiming to stabilize the grid, save lives, and lower costs amid freezing temperatures and blackouts. The department's news release details how these orders direct backup power from data centers and major facilities to ease strain on strained systems.

In New York and surrounding areas, Secretary Wright signed another emergency order to mitigate blackouts, as stated in the Energy Department's announcement on the same day. This move strengthens the grid by freeing up electricity for households, hospitals, and essential services. Bloomberg reports that the order authorizes PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid operator serving over 67 million people from Chicago to Virginia, to divert power destined for data centers to critical customers and prevent rolling blackouts. Two units of Duke Energy Corporation received similar authorization.

The Energy Department also notes Secretary Wright issued orders to keep the New England and Texas grids stable during the storm. In a letter to grid operators, he urged them to maintain communication with the department and prepare backup resources at data centers. These steps come as arctic cold snaps drive record natural gas demand, with U.S. imports from Canada hitting highs around 9.5 billion cubic feet on January 26, according to IIR Energy analysis.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson is set to speak at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event on February 3, 2026, focusing on innovation in critical minerals, as outlined in the event agenda. These efforts highlight the department's push for energy dominance under President Trump's administration.

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright took swift action over the past few days to protect power grids battered by Winter Storm Fern. On January 26, 2026, the Department of Energy announced that Secretary Wright issued two emergency orders to deploy backup generation in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas regions. These measures aim to stabilize the grid, save lives, and lower energy costs for millions amid the storm's fury, according to the Department of Energy's official release.

Earlier, on January 22, Wright warned grid operators nationwide to stay in close contact with the department and prepare unused backup generators at data centers and major facilities. The Department of Energy reports that more than 35 gigawatts of such generation sits idle across the country, ready to prevent blackouts. "We have identified more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation that exists across the country and are taking action to ensure that if the nation needs it, the generation will be made available," Wright stated in the announcement. He emphasized the department's commitment to averting outages and cutting costs for Americans.

The very same day, January 26, Wright issued another emergency order specifically for New York and surrounding areas. This directive strengthens the grid there following the storm's impact, as detailed in the department's update. These rapid responses highlight Wright's focus on reliability during extreme weather.

Meanwhile, debate simmers over radiation regulations tied to energy policy. Former Assistant Secretary Katy Huff argued in a Scientific American op-ed, covered by Nuclear News on January 26, that loosening Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules without solid new evidence could risk public health, especially for women and children. She urges more research before changes based on a 2025 executive order.

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