For decades, nuclear power carried the baggage of past disasters - Chernobyl in 1986, Fukushima in 2011, and even the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979. Those events pushed nations to shut down plants and abandon new projects.
But here we are in 2025, and the world is waking up to a new reality: if we want clean, reliable, around-the-clock power for the future, nuclear isn’t optional - it’s essential.
And the numbers don’t lie.
• Global investment in nuclear energy stands at about $65 billion annually today.
• By 2030, under the Net Zero Emissions scenario, that figure could more than double to $150 billion.
That’s not just a comeback. That’s a renaissance.
Why Now?
• AI’s Energy Appetite: MIT projects that by 2030, artificial intelligence could consume 21% of the world’s electricity.
• Data Centers & Supercomputers: These aren’t just power-hungry - they need 24/7, carbon-free baseload power. Wind and solar can’t do it alone. Nuclear can.
• Regulatory Momentum: Washington and global policymakers are tearing down barriers. The ADVANCE Act and new executive orders are unlocking billions for next-generation nuclear and small modular reactors (SMRs). For the first time in decades, there’s bipartisan agreement: America needs nuclear.
The Players Driving the Revival
• Uranium Suppliers: Cameco (CCJ) is positioned at the heart of a supply squeeze after years of underinvestment.
• Utilities: Constellation Energy (CEG) proves nuclear’s ability to power millions of homes and Fortune 100 companies. Microsoft (MSFT) even struck a deal to bring Three Mile Island back online.
• Innovators: Oklo (OKLO), NuScale (SMR), and GE Vernova (GEV) are building safer, cheaper, scalable SMRs that could transform global energy delivery.
A Global Shift
This isn’t just an American story. Japan, South Korea, France, and others are reactivating old plants and breaking ground on new ones. Even in regions once hostile to nuclear, leaders now acknowledge the math: without nuclear, there is no path to net zero - and no way to fuel the AI revolution.
The Big Picture
Every major innovation boom needs an energy backbone.
• The internet had natural gas.
• The EV revolution has lithium.
• And the AI revolution? It will be fueled by nuclear.
We are in the early innings of what I call the Nuclear Energy Renaissance.
Yes, there are risks. Some companies will soar, others will stumble. But the direction is clear - and unstoppable.
For investors with vision and patience, this could be one of the most powerful megatrends of the decade. Nuclear is back. AI demands it. And those who ride the wave now could be looking at life-changing gains in the years ahead.
Here’s to the future,
Matt McCall
Editor, Market Insights
