Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright delivered the US National Statement at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. He reflected on the historical significance of President Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace speech, which led to the creation of the IAEA.
Wright highlighted the US commitment to the IAEA’s mission, referencing achievements such as global safeguards, securing fissile materials, and advancing nuclear science to improve living standards. He congratulated Timor Leste on joining as the newest IAEA member and expressed eagerness to collaborate.
Under President Trump's leadership, the US is pursuing a nuclear renaissance by modernizing regulations, streamlining advanced reactor testing, and rebuilding the nuclear industrial base. These efforts aim to support the goal of adding 300 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2050.
The Department of Energy’s advanced reactor pilot program has supported the criticality of five small modular reactors, generating operational data and regulatory insights to guide future commercial reactor development.
Additionally, the Genesis Mission is using artificial intelligence to advance nuclear engineering by accelerating research and simplifying reactor testing, aiming to make next-generation nuclear reactors easier, safer, and more affordable to build.