There was a time, not very long ago, when talking about significant growth in U.S. nuclear generation felt more like a history lesson, talking about the past.

Today, it increasingly feels like we’re talking about the future. Electric demand is growing again as data centers, AI, advanced manufacturing, and electrification are creating enormous new requirements for power. Utilities need generation that’s reliable, available around the clock, and capable of supporting a rapidly growing system. And companies with some of the largest electricity needs in the world are becoming directly involved in securing new generation.

All of that has put nuclear power back in the conversation.

But what’s especially interesting is that this isn’t just a conversation about building new reactors. Some of the most immediate opportunities involve getting more from the nuclear fleet that we already have through uprates, life extensions, restarts, and potentially even completing plants that were never finished. At the same time, the industry is trying to move small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and even a new generation of large reactors from concepts and commitments into actual deployment.

So, appropriately enough, today’s episode is called “Back to the Future: Nuclear Power and Capacity Expansion.”

Connect with Our Experts

Marc Miller, Partner and Energy Practice Leader | MDMiller@scottmadden.com

Luke Martin, Partner | lukemartin@scottmadden.com

info@scottmadden.com

Over the last several episodes, we’ve talked about explosive load growth, transmission expansion, artificial intelligence, and the investments utilities are making to keep pace with demand. Today, we’re stepping back and asking a more fundamental question: How should utilities actually plan for all of this?

Historically, utilities planned generation, transmission, distribution, and in many companies even gas systems, largely through separate processes. That approach worked when the system evolved more slowly, and the interactions among those domains were more predictable.

Today’s energy system is different. Large loads can arrive faster than infrastructure can be built. Distributed energy resources are changing power flows. The generation mix is becoming more variable. Electrification affects both electric and gas networks. And every major investment decision can create implications somewhere else on the system.

That’s where integrated system planning comes in.

Connect with our experts:

Marc Miller, Partner and Energy Practice Area Leader | Host

MDMiller@scottmadden.com

Stephen Haubrich, Partner | Guest

SHaubrich@scottmadden.com

Info@scottmadden.com

The electric power industry is entering a new phase of growth. Electricity demand is rising again, driven by data centers, electrification, and new industrial load. But while attention often focuses on generation resources, one of the biggest challenges may be transmission development.

Across the country, utilities and system operators are working to expand the grid, but projects can take years to permit, finance, and build. The result is a growing conversation about whether the transmission system can keep up with the demands being placed on it.

Connect with our experts:

Marc Miller, Partner and Energy Practice Area Leader | Host

MDMiller@scottmadden.com

Dave Adams, Partner | Guest

DAdams@scottmadden.com

Info@scottmadden.com