Nuclear Power a Distant Solution to Data Center Needs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2026 — As artificial intelligence drives explosive growth in data center energy consumption, nuclear power has emerged as a promising solution, experts said Wednesday during a panel discussion hosted by Broadband Breakfast.

The United States leads the world in nuclear generating capacity, but its fleet carries a mean age of roughly 45 years, Frank Wolak, director of the program on Energy and Sustainability Development at Stanford University, noted. Despite limited new construction, operational improvements have driven fleet-wide capacity factors from around 50 percent in the mid-1970s to above 90 percent today, meaning existing plants are generating nearly twice the electricity from the same capacity.

"Nuclear power is the second most important success story in U.S. energy, besides the shale gas revolution," Wolak said, citing declining unplanned reactor shutdowns and a strong safety record as indicators of the fleet's improved reliability.

Broadband Breakfast on February 18, 2026 - AI, Nuclear Power and Data Centers

As AI-driven data centers strain the grid and tech companies turn to nuclear power, can utilities and policymakers scale energy infrastructure fast enough?

Broadband BreakfastFrank Wolak