November 2, 2025 – The United States must pursue a forward-looking, reliable, and resilient energy strategy. That strategy must meet rising electricity demand without compromising national security, economic competitiveness, or environmental stewardship. For these reasons, we strongly support making small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, a central part of America’s energy policy. These compact, next-generation nuclear technologies represent a major opportunity to reshape how we produce clean, reliable energy for the modern era.
We have long been a leader in nuclear energy. In 1958, the nation launched the world’s first commercial nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. Over the next several decades, large-scale nuclear plants became essential parts of the American energy mix, consistently providing a substantial share of baseload electricity. Today, nuclear power still supplies around 20 percent of the country’s electricity and more than half of its carbon-free generation.
However, large nuclear plants are expensive to build and often face long delays due to permitting and regulatory hurdles. Many existing reactors are reaching the end of their service life, and few new large-scale projects have been completed in recent decades. That is where small modular reactors offer a practical and innovative solution.
What Are Small Modular Reactors?
Small modular reactors are a new category of nuclear technology designed to produce between 50 and 300 megawatts of electricity per unit. Traditional reactors often produce more than 1,000 megawatts. SMRs are designed to be built in factories and shipped to installation sites, making them faster and more cost-effective to deploy. They incorporate advanced safety features such as passive cooling systems and underground containment structures that significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
SMRs also offer a level of flexibility that large plants cannot match. They can be installed in remote or underserved areas, at military bases, near industrial facilities, or in communities that need reliable power but cannot support a full-scale nuclear plant. Multiple SMRs can be deployed at a single site to scale output as needed.
Why This Matters Now
The United States is facing an unprecedented surge in electricity demand. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, and data centers are placing increasing pressure on an aging and overstretched grid. At the same time, coal plants are being retired, renewable sources are limited by weather conditions, and the permitting process for natural gas projects remains slow and inconsistent.
Small modular reactors offer a solution that is both clean and reliable. They can operate continuously, provide predictable output, and reduce the burden on other parts of the energy system. They also support long-term energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign fuels and materials. As more countries seek to decarbonize their power sectors, SMRs will play a growing role in global energy markets.
The Fueling Freedom Perspective
Fueling Freedom strongly supports the advancement of small modular reactors because they directly support our mission to restore American energy independence, strengthen domestic industry, and reassert United States leadership in energy innovation. Small modular reactors offer a practical and forward-looking solution to many of the challenges facing the nation’s energy system, including rising electricity demand, grid reliability concerns, aging infrastructure, and growing national security risks tied to foreign energy dependence. Each of our core policy pillars is reinforced by the responsible development and deployment of SMRs.
Energy Innovation
Small modular reactors represent one of the most important advancements in nuclear technology in decades. Unlike traditional large nuclear plants, SMRs are designed to be smaller, standardized, and factory-built, which lowers costs and shortens construction timelines. Their advanced safety features, including passive cooling systems and underground containment, significantly reduce operational risk and improve resilience. SMRs demonstrate that the United States can pursue clean energy innovation without sacrificing reliability, affordability, or energy security.
Infrastructure Investment
Developing SMRs strengthens American manufacturing and construction sectors while creating high-quality, long-term jobs. These projects require skilled engineers, technicians, welders, and construction professionals, supporting local economies and revitalizing communities with industrial roots. SMRs also provide an opportunity to reuse existing energy sites, including former coal plants or retired nuclear facilities, which already have grid connections and an experienced workforce in place.
Regulatory Reform
Fueling Freedom believes America must modernize its regulatory approach to match the pace of innovation. Current licensing processes for nuclear projects are lengthy and unpredictable, discouraging investment and slowing progress. Supporting SMRs requires a more efficient and transparent regulatory framework that maintains safety while providing certainty to developers. Streamlined approvals, standardized reactor designs, and clearer timelines will demonstrate that the United States can build critical infrastructure responsibly and efficiently.
Economic Development
Small modular reactors are well suited to support the energy needs of modern industries. Data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, defense installations, and high-tech research campuses all require constant, reliable power. SMRs can be located near these energy-intensive operations, lowering costs and improving reliability. Their flexibility also allows them to support rural communities and remote locations that struggle with grid access, helping to expand economic opportunity across the country.
Global Energy Leadership
As global demand for reliable and low-emission energy grows, the United States has an opportunity to lead by exporting advanced nuclear technology. American-designed SMRs can help allied nations strengthen their energy security while reducing reliance on unstable or adversarial suppliers. By setting the global standard for safety, efficiency, and reliability in nuclear energy, the United States can reinforce its strategic leadership and support international economic growth.
Small modular reactors are more than an energy solution. They are a strategic investment in America’s future. Fueling Freedom is committed to advancing policies that prioritize SMRs because they deliver clean power, economic strength, and national security. With the right leadership and policy framework, SMRs can help power the next chapter of American innovation and prosperity.
What Needs to Happen
Small modular reactors are not a distant concept. They are a ready solution to help meet America’s rising energy needs. With the right policy support, these reactors can become a cornerstone of our energy future.
They offer clean power, consistent performance, and the flexibility needed to support the next generation of American innovation.
To unlock the potential of small modular reactors, federal and state policymakers should act in several key areas:
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Expedite Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing for SMR designs and siting
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Expand federal loan guarantees, investment tax credits, and public-private partnerships
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Integrate SMRs into national infrastructure and grid reliability planning
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Educate the public and local communities on the safety, value, and potential of SMRs
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Include SMRs in energy resilience and national security strategies
Fueling Freedom is committed to advancing policies that support SMR development. Our economy, national security, and technological leadership all depend on reliable energy infrastructure. Small nuclear reactors are a crucial part of that equation, and the time to prioritize them is now.