TL;DR
A recent Wired piece reports growing US political and public support for nuclear energy while coal plants are being retired and high-energy data centers face increasing resistance. The article frames these trends as a new battleground in America's energy policy and infrastructure debates.
What happened
Wired senior writer Molly Taft reports that support for nuclear power in the United States has risen sharply, even as coal-fired plants continue to be phased out and large data centers—whose operations consume substantial electricity—are encountering intensified public and regulatory pushback. The story situates the shift in perspective against a longer timeline that includes the 2017 policy environment, noting how energy politics have evolved since then. Taft frames these developments as converging elements of a broader contest over how the country produces and uses electricity, with nuclear's resurgence, the decline of coal, and conflicts over data-center expansion forming the core of the current debate. The piece is presented as an analysis of where power generation and high-demand electricity use may collide amid policy, market, and social pressures.
Why it matters
- Changes in the energy mix—more nuclear, less coal—could reshape grid planning and long-term infrastructure investment.
- Rising scrutiny of data centers highlights tensions between digital growth and local electricity capacity or community concerns.
- Shifts in public and political support influence which technologies receive funding, permitting priority, and regulatory attention.
- The outcome of this power-sector contest will affect climate goals, energy reliability, and industrial strategies tied to high electricity demand.
Key facts
- Wired published the piece 'The Great Big Power Play' by Molly Taft on December 30, 2025.
- The article says US support for nuclear energy is 'soaring' (phrase reported in the source).
- Coal plants are described in the piece as being 'on their way out,' indicating ongoing retirements.
- Large data centers are characterized as drawing significant criticism for their substantial electricity use.
- The report frames these dynamics as a new front in the nation's energy battle.
- The article references the 2017 policy context, noting how energy politics have shifted since then.
- Topics tagged with the article include energy, power grid, nuclear power, data centers, and artificial intelligence.
What to watch next
- Federal or state policy changes that could accelerate nuclear construction or licensing — not confirmed in the source.
- Regulatory actions or local ordinances that limit data center siting or electricity use — not confirmed in the source.
- Timelines for coal plant retirements and how grid operators manage the transitions — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Nuclear energy: Electricity generated by controlled nuclear reactions, typically using reactors to produce heat that drives turbines.
- Coal plant: A power station that burns coal to produce steam for electricity generation; historically a major source of baseload power and emissions.
- Data center: A facility that houses computing hardware and networks; large centers can consume substantial amounts of electricity for servers and cooling.
- Power grid: An interconnected network that delivers electricity from producers to consumers, including generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
- Artificial intelligence (AI): Computer systems and software that perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence; AI workloads can drive high demand for computing resources.
Reader FAQ
Is support for nuclear energy actually increasing in the US?
The article reports that US support for nuclear energy is 'soaring.'
Are coal plants closing down?
The piece describes coal plants as being 'on their way out,' indicating ongoing retirements.
Are data centers facing pushback because of their electricity use?
Yes; the article states that large, power-hungry data centers are meeting significant pushback.
Which policies are driving these changes?
not confirmed in the source
MOLLY TAFT SCIENCE DEC 30, 2025 6:00 AM The Great Big Power Play US support for nuclear energy is soaring. Meanwhile, coal plants are on their way out and electricity-sucking…
Sources
- The Great Big Power Play
- Big Tech shifts to “all of the above” strategy to power AI
- States See a Federal Power Grab in Clash Over AI Data …
- AI gold rush comes with a catch: America could run out of …
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