US DOE approves fourth advanced reactor and launches $17.5 B loan program for ten new reactors

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Aalo Atomics’ Aalo‑X Critical Test Reactor became the fourth advanced reactor in the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program to reach criticality, joining three reactors that cleared criticality in June. The milestone is presented as evidence that streamlined permitting and federal support can accelerate domestic nuclear development.

In a related move, the DOE unveiled up to $17.5 billion in conditional loans to fund ten new Westinghouse‑designed AP1000 reactors across five projects, with construction slated to begin by 2030. The program aims to rebuild the U.S. nuclear supply chain, secure long‑lead‑time components, and support sectors such as AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining and large‑scale cloud providers. Officials cite the loans as a cornerstone of a broader strategy to expand nuclear capacity, enhance energy security and boost manufacturing competitiveness.

Both actions are part of the administration’s goal of having ten new large reactors operating by 2030 and reflect a policy shift toward faster permitting, domestic component production and increased federal financing for next‑generation nuclear power.