Is Nuclear Making a Renaissance?

Robert Bryce and Doug Sandridge join David Blackmon and Stu Turley to unpack what Trump’s bold executive orders mean for nuclear energy in America. From the push to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050 to lessons from Germany’s energy policy reversal, the panel offers sharp analysis on the real potential and challenges of a nuclear resurgence.

They also explore how U.S. global competitiveness, supply chain issues, and workforce gaps could define the next decade of nuclear development. Whether you're an energy pro or just curious about the future of power, this conversation delivers insight, urgency, and a dose of realism.

Some of the key issues were around the fact that we have to lower regulations, and we have questions about the nuclear reactors on federal land. Will that help speed things up or slow them down? Can we export our nuclear reactors by possibly utilizing the military? Like the US Merchant Marines? Use them and sell the reactors as a service with Military protection, or even, like the Russians have proven, the Nuclear Reactors on ships and pull them up to a grid connection, like an LNG to Power plant configuration in Vietnam.

They also explore how U.S. global competitiveness, supply chain issues, and workforce gaps could define the next decade of nuclear development. Whether you're an energy pro or just curious about the future of power, this conversation delivers insight, urgency, and a dose of realism.

Robert Bryce, thank you for stopping by the Energy News Beat and the Energy Impacts podcast with David Blackmon. Both of your energy leadership skills are needed now more than ever.

Douglas C. Sandridge - Thank you for taking the time to be on the podcast, even while traveling in Europe. Your passion for advocating for nuclear energy through your Oil and Gas Executives for Nuclear group is making a difference. 

https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

https://robertbryce.substack.com/

https://blackmon.substack.com/

https://douglascsandridge.substack.com/

If you care about energy, this one’s a must-listen.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Intro to the Podcast

02:40 – Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy

04:59 – Unrealistic Nuclear Growth Goals

07:55 – Need for Standardization

10:55 – Executive Orders vs. Policy

12:53 – Defense Production Act

17:12 – Merchant Marines & Nuclear Export

19:18 – Global Leadership & Costs

22:10 – Lessons from Barakah

24:00 – Oil & Gas Workforce Transition

27:34 – Nuclear Power Ships

28:59 – Natural Gas as Bridge Fuel

33:28 – Uranium & Reprocessing

39:58 – Grid & Transmission Constraints

46:46 – Data Centers and Microgrids

49:47 – Final Thoughts

52:44 – DOE Loan Program Concerns

54:03 – Where to Find us