Trump’s Nuclear Orders Ignite Ohio’s Energy Revolution

President Trump’s Nuclear Executive Orders Set the Stage for a Nuclear Renaissance in Ohio. With bold new federal directives, Ohio’s nuclear future shines brighter than ever.

On May 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a series of sweeping executive orders (EOs 14299 through 14302) aimed at reasserting American leadership in nuclear energy and jumpstarting the deployment of the next generation of advanced reactors. The ramifications for states like Ohio—already positioning itself with the Ohio Nuclear Development Authority (ONDA)—are potentially transformational.

The executive orders overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), fast-track advanced test reactors at national labs, expand HALEU enrichment, and unlock up to 10 new full-scale nuclear reactors with 5 gigawatts of uprates by 2030. Most notably for Ohio, the orders direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate and recycle spent nuclear fuel (SNF), authorize fuel recycling facilities on DOE or DoD sites, and prioritize nuclear deployment for national security and AI infrastructure.

“Trump’s orders break the bureaucratic logjam that has kept fast-spectrum molten salt reactors and fuel recycling on the drawing board instead of on the ground,” said Donald Larson, Director of the eGeneration Foundation. “This opens the door for Ohio to commercialize its nuclear assets and deploy reactors that consume waste, clean our grid, and anchor a new industrial revolution.”

Jon Morrow, Chief Economist for eGeneration and architect of ONDA’s legislative framework, emphasized the economic impact: “These orders give states a green light to lead. Ohio is now uniquely positioned to access matching federal funds, leverage public-private partnerships, and host national security-grade reactors. The ONDA, Carbon Reversal Credits, and the Ohio Nuclear Development Consortium are not just policies—they're pipelines to energy security, industrial revitalization, and electricity cost reductions.”

Ohio has already introduced a suite of legislation establishing ONDA, the ONDC, and an ambitious Carbon Reversal Credit system, aimed at allowing advanced reactors to consume SNF and municipal waste while generating ultra-clean power and critical isotopes for medical use, semiconductor production, and the military.

Under Trump’s new guidance:

• The DOE must identify and recycle uranium and plutonium stockpiles, utilizing all available authority.

• The NRC must revise its rulebook by 2026 to streamline the licensing process for advanced reactors.

• Federal agencies must expedite deployment at DOE sites, such as Portsmouth in Piketon, Ohio, a legacy Cold War facility well-suited for reuse.

The President’s emphasis on reducing foreign-controlled green energy subsidies also aligns with ONDA’s legislation to assert proprietary terms like “Carbon Reversal Technology” and “Greener than Green Energy.” Ohio’s leadership can now reclaim the narrative and market value of true clean energy.

“This is not your grandfather’s nuclear industry,” added Larson. “This is distributed, modular, fast-spectrum, isotopic, national-security-enhancing, waste-consuming American innovation—and it belongs in Ohio.”

President Donald J. Trump has issued a sweeping set of four Executive Orders (EOs 14299, 14300, 14301, and 14302) designed to catapult the United States into global leadership in advanced nuclear energy. These orders, unprecedented in scope and urgency, mark a turning point in federal nuclear policy, prioritizing fuel security, the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), the consumption of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and domestic isotope production. Here’s a breakdown of what each order accomplishes and why it matters:

Executive Order 14299 – Declaring America’s Nuclear Renaissance

This EO sets the tone for a new national strategy. It affirms nuclear energy as essential to U.S. national security, economic strength, and energy independence. The order streamlines permitting processes, calls for the creation of nuclear industrial parks, and directs federal agencies to prioritize support for U.S.-made nuclear technologies, especially fast-spectrum and molten salt reactor systems.

➤ Implication: Federal agencies must align budgets, research priorities, and policy efforts to accelerate nuclear reactor deployment, removing bureaucratic friction.

Executive Order 14300 – Fueling American Innovation

This order focuses on nuclear fuel sovereignty. It empowers the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to reclassify certain types of SNF as usable fuel for Generation IV reactors. It also directs the DOE to develop a strategic HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) stockpile and utilize funds from the Nuclear Waste Management Fund for the commercialization of fuel reprocessing technologies.

➤ Implication: This unlocks billions in federal matching funds for states and companies that invest in reprocessing SNF, opening the door for Ohio's ONDA and ONDC to lead.

Executive Order 14301 – Accelerating Reactor Deployment

This EO fast-tracks the commercialization of advanced reactor designs by mandating accelerated reviews at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), reducing red tape, and launching public-private partnerships. A focus is placed on reactors capable of reducing nuclear waste volume and powering critical infrastructure, including AI server farms and military installations.

➤ Implication: This aligns with Ohio’s modular reactor goals and could turbocharge public-private investments through streamlined NRC approvals.

Executive Order 14302 – Isotopes for a Strong America

Trump’s final EO addresses isotope independence. It directs federal procurement agencies to prioritize the domestic production of medical, industrial, and defense-critical isotopes. It also calls for the co-location of isotope production facilities with advanced reactors, particularly in regions like the Midwest.

➤ Implication: This creates guaranteed markets for Ohio-based isotope producers tied to molten salt reactor sites, especially in places like Piketon or the proposed ONDC zones.

What This Means for Ohio

Ohio’s energy innovators, including the Ohio Nuclear Development Authority (ONDA) and the Ohio Nuclear Development Consortium (ONDC), are uniquely positioned to capitalize on this federal pivot.

Donald Larson, Director of the eGeneration Foundation, praised the EOs, stating:
“This is the most significant federal support for advanced nuclear since the Manhattan Project. Ohio is now poised to be the center of American nuclear ingenuity—from waste-consuming reactors to isotope supremacy.”

Jon Morrow, Economist for eGeneration, added:
“These orders don’t just level the playing field—they tilt it in favor of innovation. With ONDA’s framework, Ohio can now attract billions in federal matching funds and private capital. This is the dawn of Ohio’s energy dominance.”

Bottom Line:
Trump’s Executive Orders reframe nuclear energy not just as a clean energy source, but as a strategic asset. They establish a new federal architecture that rewards innovation, decentralizes power development, and invites state-led initiatives, such as Ohio’s ONDA, to take the lead. For Ohio, the opportunity is clear: build the reactors, reprocess the waste, produce the isotopes, and power America’s digital and industrial future.

With bipartisan interest in resilient energy infrastructure, surging demand for data centers, and a supportive federal administration, the timing for Ohio’s nuclear legislation couldn’t be more opportune. As Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley craft an energy overhaul, the ONDA stands ready to operationalize Trump’s nuclear vision—right here in the Buckeye State.