The Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania is set for a major comeback. The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a $1 billion federal loan to restart the 835-megawatt reactor that shut down in 2019 but was never fully decommissioned. The move marks one of the most significant federal interventions in nuclear power in years.
The loan is being issued under the administration’s “Energy Dominance Financing” initiative, following a directive from President Trump to revive nuclear assets across the country. Once the reactor receives the necessary approvals from federal regulators, it’s expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 800,000 homes throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Officials say the restart will support grid reliability, lower energy costs, and bring more than 600 jobs to the region. They also note that rapidly growing energy demand—from data centers, AI infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing—has made nuclear power an increasingly attractive option for long-term stability.
While the relaunch offers a major source of carbon-free energy, challenges remain. The project still needs regulatory clearance, and long-standing issues surrounding radioactive waste storage and the financial hurdles of restarting an idle plant continue to loom. Even so, supporters argue the revival of Three Mile Island may mark a turning point in America’s nuclear resurgence.
