National Energy Security and the Rise of Small Modular Reactors: The Future of US National Security
For decades, energy policy in Washington has been debated based on economics, climate change, and domestic politics. That era has ended. The United States is entering an era where energy security must be recognized as a core pillar of national security and military readiness.
The global competition with China is not just about trade or tariffs. It is about industrial capability, technological dominance, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor manufacturing, and defense production—all of which depend on one fundamental requirement: abundant and reliable electricity. The future of US military superiority will depend in part on which nation can generate enough sustainable, secure electricity to support its expanding defense industrial base and digital infrastructure.
Energy is National Security
The United States faces the convergence of unprecedented energy demands and an electrical grid that is at capacity and vulnerable to cyberattacks, physical sabotage, transmission bottlenecks, and extreme weather events. Intermittent energy sources alone cannot meet the scale or reliability requirements needed to maintain America's strategic position. The nation needs reliable, 24/7 electricity that can support critical infrastructure under any conditions—including during natural disasters, geopolitical crises, or military conflict.
| Current Grid Challenges | Impact on National Security |
|---|---|
| • Operating at maximum capacity | • Military operations disruption |
| • Vulnerable to cyberattacks | • Risk of critical infrastructure disruption |
| • Physical sabotage risks | • Limited crisis response capability |
| • Transmission bottlenecks | • Impact on defense manufacturing |
| • Extreme weather events | • Loss of technological competitive advantage |
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - The Future Solution
Advanced nuclear energy, powered by small modular reactors (SMRs), is rapidly emerging as one of the few practical solutions capable of meeting those demands on a timeline shorter than traditional electrical systems. Unlike traditional large-scale nuclear plants, SMRs are designed to be smaller, factory-manufactured, and more flexible in deployment. They can be built to support specific industrial facilities, military bases, AI infrastructure, and in remote or constrained areas where grid reliability is a concern.
| SMR Characteristics | Advantages Over Traditional Technology |
|---|---|
| • Compact size | • Shorter construction time |
| • Factory-manufactured | • Scalable in phases |
| • Flexible deployment | • Enhanced safety through passive design |
| • Adaptable to various locations | • Reduced financial risk |
| • Lower initial investment cost | • Tailored to specific needs |
National Security Implications
Modern military operations increasingly consume more energy. Military bases, logistics centers, shipyards, semiconductor manufacturing plants, weapons production facilities, and command and control infrastructure all depend on uninterrupted electricity. However, many of these facilities still rely on centralized transmission systems that are vulnerable to disruption.
One of the most significant strategic developments in the SMR space is the increasing focus on "behind-the-meter" deployment capability—the ability to place reactors near mission-critical facilities rather than complete dependence on long-distance transmission infrastructure. This approach could reshape military and industrial resilience in the United States.
| Critical Infrastructure | Energy Requirements | Risks of Power Outage |
|---|---|---|
| • Military bases | • 24/7 stable power | • Combat operations disruption |
| • Logistics centers | • High capacity | • Crisis response capability loss |
| • Shipyards | • Backup capability | • Supply chain disruption risk |
| • Semiconductor plants | • Harsh environment resistance | • Technological competitive advantage loss |
| • Weapons production facilities | • High cybersecurity | • Reduced defense capability |
Fuel Challenges
Equally important is the question of fuel security. One of the least discussed but consequential challenges facing the advanced nuclear industry is fuel availability. Many next-generation reactor concepts depend on High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), a fuel source that lacks large-scale commercial availability in North America and partially depends on enrichment capabilities controlled by Russia.
This creates a strategic gap that the United States cannot afford to ignore. Energy independence cannot exist if critical fuel supply chains remain dependent on geopolitical rivals or unstable foreign markets. Any serious national nuclear strategy must prioritize technologies capable of operating with commercially available fuel supported by secure supply chains.
Strategic Competition with China
This is where deployment readiness becomes critically important. For many years, much of the advanced nuclear conversation has focused on future concepts, demonstration projects, and theoretical deployment timelines. But America's strategic adversaries are not waiting. China is rapidly expanding its nuclear footprint domestically and internationally as part of a broader geopolitical strategy tied to industrial influence and infrastructure dominance.
The US Department of Energy reports that from 2014 to 2023, China increased its net installed nuclear capacity by nearly threefold, and this domestic experience is the foundation for Beijing's efforts to export 30 nuclear reactors by 2030 to participating Belt and Road Initiative countries.
| Indicator | United States | China |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear installed capacity (2014-2023) | Increased ~50% | Increased ~200% |
| Number of operating reactors | 93 reactors | 55 reactors |
| Export strategy | Focus on domestic market | Export 30 reactors by 2030 |
| Deployment speed | Average 1-2 reactors/year | Average 4-5 reactors/year |
Current Status of SMR Development in the United States
The United States must act with urgency, and the technology to do so is available right now. Currently, NuScale Power is the only SMR developer with full Standard Design Approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under the modern Part 50 licensing framework, and it is the only company with SMR technology approved for commercial deployment and currently transitioning to production.
This distinction matters because licensing will determine which technologies are deployed in the coming decade. Most competing SMR and Generation IV reactor companies, including Westinghouse, Oklo, TerraPower, and X-Energy, still have years before NRC approval, depend on unproven fuel supply chains, or continue to operate in demonstration programs without commercially deployable designs.
The Tennessee Valley Authority Partnership
The recent collaboration involving the Tennessee Valley Authority, ENTRA1 Energy, and NuScale is significant not just because of the companies involved, but because it signals a major shift from discussion to deployment. The proposed initiative, potentially involving up to six gigawatts of SMR capacity, reflects the growing recognition that advanced nuclear energy will soon become essential to support America's expanding industrial, digital, and national security infrastructure.
This is a noteworthy development that highlights a reality policymakers face: the critical deployment timeline. The United States does not have the luxury of waiting another decade for energy technologies stuck in lengthy licensing processes, uncertain fuel pathways, or unresolved manufacturing challenges. Strategic competition is accelerating right now.
Conclusion
This is not an argument to abandon other energy sources. This is an argument to recognize that advanced nuclear energy is increasingly becoming an essential component in the United States' long-term energy resilience strategy, alongside fossil fuels and renewables. The SMR debate should not be framed merely as an energy issue. Fundamentally, it is about whether the United States can maintain military readiness, secure critical infrastructure, support advanced manufacturing, power the AI revolution, and maintain its geopolitical leadership position in an increasingly unstable world.
Energy dominance is no longer just economic policy. It is defense policy. Small modular reactors enable the United States to maintain its strategic advantage.