The Great Big Power Play

The article "The Great Big Power Play" outlines the evolving landscape of US energy policy, particularly focusing on coal and nuclear power amid rising energy demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI). In 2017, the administration attempted to support struggling coal and nuclear plants through subsidies, but these efforts largely failed as coal's share of the US power mix declined from 45% in 2010 to 17% today, and several nuclear plants shut down or stalled in construction. However, in 2025, there has been a renewed push to revitalize nuclear energy, with the Trump administration issuing executive orders to build new reactors and streamline regulatory processes. This push is closely tied to AI's growing energy needs, with major tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft investing in nuclear power to run data centers, including efforts to restart retired reactors such as Three Mile Island. Despite this momentum and rising public support for nuclear power, significant challenges remain. The high costs of nuclear construction, skepticism about valuations of small