The Department of Energy has approved a $1 billion loan to Constellation Energy to revive a reactor at Three Mile Island, aiming to strengthen the Mid-Atlantic grid, provide firm baseload capacity and support industrial growth. The move revives the storied site as the Crane Clean Energy Center and signals a broader push to add reliable, dispatchable power while backing an all-of-the-above energy strategy. Officials point to potential benefits that include powering hundreds of thousands of homes, stabilizing electricity prices and supporting data center and manufacturing demand.
This project turns a controversial chapter into a pragmatic solution for energy security and economic strength. Three Mile Island’s Reactor Unit Two has been offline since the 1979 accident, and Unit One ceased operation in the 2010s mainly for economic reasons. Restarting a reactor there won’t erase history, but it does offer a path to restore local capacity and keep energy costs in check for consumers and businesses alike.
Energy Department Loan Programs Office director Greg Beard confirmed the $1 billion loan and emphasized the site’s roughly 800 megawatts of potential capacity. That kind of output matters to regional grid operator PJM as a source of “stable, affordable baseload power.” In plain terms, it means consistent electricity that keeps lights on, factories running and prices from spiking when intermittent sources dip.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the move as a response to stubbornly rising electricity bills and a broader effort to rebuild domestic generation. “One of the biggest challenges American people have faced over the last several years has been the rising price of electricity … and when we arrived; the Trump administration; in town there were plans to close 100gW more of affordable, reliable, secure dispatchable electricity generation,” he said. That message lines up with the administration’s push to prevent further retirements of reliable plants and to bring new firm capacity online.
Wright also highlighted the administration’s goal to add dispatchable power so industry can count on consistent supply. “We want to bring as much net addition of dispatchable, reliable electricity onto the grid to stop these price rises in electricity and increase American capacity to generate firm, reliable, electricity so we can reassure manufacturing in our country, and we can stay ahead in the AI race,” Wright said. The argument is straightforward: reliable baseload energy underpins advanced manufacturing, data centers and the AI infrastructure the country is racing to lead.
Constellation Energy, which signed a 20-year lease in late 2024 and rebranded the facility as the Crane Clean Energy Center, has touted plans to pair nuclear capacity with modern industrial uses. The company has discussed powering AI data centers and supporting other large loads, a natural fit for steady 24/7 generation. Bringing that capacity back into service could attract investment and create stable, long-term jobs in the region.
Local and state officials have signaled broad interest in reopening the site, pointing to emissions and economic benefits. Pennsylvania’s leadership framed nuclear plants as key low-carbon assets that can both cut emissions and bolster growth. “[It provides] carbon-free electricity that helps reduce emissions and grow Pennsylvania’s economy,” he said, reflecting the bipartisan appetite in some quarters to preserve nuclear as part of a cleaner, reliable mix.
The Biden years saw several plants close for economic reasons, and the current administration has been explicit about reversing that trend and supporting nuclear projects through loans and regulatory engagement. Officials say the Three Mile Island effort could reach fruition as early as 2027 if licensing and construction go smoothly. That timetable reflects aggressive ambition to restore domestic capacity fast enough to matter for the next wave of industrial and data infrastructure needs.
Beyond Three Mile Island, the Loan Programs Office says there is an active pipeline of applications for support across nuclear, coal, oil, gas and critical minerals projects aimed at revitalizing the energy supply chain. The administration’s approach signals a practical, results-oriented mix: back firm power, secure supply chains and use public financing to lower risk for strategic projects. For voters and businesses worried about prices and reliability, that kind of targeted support looks like common-sense energy policy that prioritizes American competitiveness and grid resilience.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.