Anna Broughel
America’s digital supremacy rests on a precarious foundation: the ability to power its data centers. As national security experts and policymakers have increasingly recognized, this seemingly domestic energy challenge has profound implications for U.S. strategic interests and global influence.
The geopolitical stakes could not be higher. As Russia and China aggressively export their nuclear technology and expertise, they are not just selling power plants – they are building long-term diplomatic and economic relationships that could reshape global alliances. Meanwhile, American tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft are racing to secure clean, reliable energy for their expanding data center operations, which form the backbone of American digital dominance and, by extension, its global influence.
Many companies are already moving to secure their energy supply, signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to purchase nuclear power. They recognize that maintaining U.S. technological leadership depends on so-called “clean firm” power – electricity that is both environmentally friendly and available twenty-four/seven, regardless of weather conditions. This requirement puts nuclear power at the center of both energy security and national security discussions. In fact, the first secretarial order issued by Chris Wright, the newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Energy, makes “unleashing commercial nuclear power in the United States” one of his top priorities.
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