😡Trump Slashes $790M from Nuclear Budget

The Trump administration just dropped its new budget proposal—and while defense spending is getting a $1 trillion glow-up, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) nuclear division isn’t exactly basking in the spotlight.

The Office of Nuclear Energy faces a proposed $400 million cut, targeting what the administration calls "non-essential research."

Also on the chopping block: nearly $390 million for DOE’s nuclear waste cleanup programs that cleans up and store nuclear waste at several different locations around the U.S.

It’s a mixed bag for the nuclear sector. On one hand, core cleanup work will continue at priority sites, and key initiatives like the HALEU Availability Program (which supports advanced reactor fuel) seem safe—for now.

But remember—this isn’t final. The proposal is just that: a proposal. Congress ultimately holds the power of the purse, and lawmakers from both parties have already raised objections to parts of the plan. Expect negotiations, revisions, and plenty of political theater before any numbers are set in stone.

Worth noting: Just days before the budget was released, the DOE posted a celebratory roundup of 11 major nuclear accomplishments during Trump’s first 100 days—including SMR funding, HALEU allocations, and advanced reactor progress. It’s a sharp contrast to the proposed cuts.

👉Read the DOE roundup: 11 Big Wins for Nuclear in Trump Administration’s First 100 Days

⚛️For the Nu-clearly Curious

⚖️States and Startups Are Suing the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The NRC has long been criticized for its ultra-slow permitting times, inefficient processes, and contentious back-and-forth with nuclear companies. The lawsuit takes these criticisms one step further, claiming that by regulating smaller reactors, the NRC is misreading a crucial piece of nuclear legislation.

🚦Russia’s Next-Gen Fast Reactor Gets Green Light
Russia's nuclear regulator has given the approval for the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant's planned fifth unit - a fast neutron BN-1200 reactor. Preparations for the construction of the new unit will already begin this year.

🚀 Indonesia plans 10 GW nuclear power in major renewable energy push
Indonesia plans a major expansion in energy by 2040, including 10 GW of nuclear power. "Many of the contracts will be ... in the next five years ... especially the nuclear (contracts) because of the long lead times". Russian Rosatom, China National Nuclear Corporation, Britain's Rolls Royce, France's EDF and the U.S. firm NuScale Power have shown interest in Indonesia's nuclear power ambitions.

🤑New Danish Nuclear Power Fund Targets Raising €350 Million
A Danish fund, 92 Capital, is seeking to raise €350 million to invest in the nuclear power industry and its supply chain. The fund's partners believe nuclear energy is gaining support globally as a carbon-free and reliable source of power, with many countries aiming to increase nuclear capacity in the coming years.

🥳Japan Approves First Nuclear Restart Since 2021

After a four-year pause, Japan has just approved its first nuclear reactor restart: Tomari Unit 3, a 912 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) that’s been offline since 2012.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority cleared the reactor in a preliminary safety review, confirming it meets post-Fukushima safety standards.

The plant, operated by Hokkaido Electric, originally entered service in 2009 and is now expected to restart in 2027.

Despite the government’s updated energy strategy that aims to maximize nuclear power, progress has been glacial.

Fewer than half of Japan’s 33 operable reactors have returned to service, with the rest stalled by strict regulatory hurdles, technical upgrades, and persistent local opposition.

The Tomari restart might seem modest, but it’s symbolically important: Japan was home to the last “major” nuclear incident. Even after Fukushima, it’s clear the country still sees a role for nuclear in its future.

Eyes now turn to whether Japan can actually follow through—and whether this restart is a one-off, or the start of real momentum.

😱Europe’s Largest Blackout Ever

On April 28, Spain and Portugal experienced Europe’s largest blackout ever. At 12:33 p.m., 15 GW vanished from the grid in under five seconds, triggering a chain reaction that left the Iberian Peninsula in the dark for up to 10 hours. Seven people are reported dead from outage-related causes.

At the time, solar accounted for 59% of Spain’s power generation. Early analysis suggests the fault originated in Extremadura—home to vast solar farms.

While political leaders rushed to exonerate renewables, critics were quick to point out the obvious: this was a textbook case of rapid renewable deployment without the stabilizing grid tech to support it. Most of Spain’s solar and wind capacity lacked modern grid-forming inverters or backup systems.

Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright—fresh off signing a major nuclear deal with Poland—took a thinly veiled shot at the EU’s strategy:

“If you choose to have expensive, unreliable energy, you can't have a thriving economy and you reduce the life opportunities for your citizenship. It's a choice, but it's a bad choice.”

🎥 Watch Secretary Wright's full takedown of Europe's energy gamble—including what he thinks the U.S. is doing differently:

Spain, for its part, is still planning to shut down all seven of its nuclear reactors by 2035.

Oh, and the irony? An anti-nuclear protest was canceled—because the grid collapsed.😂

🍸Fine China or Fine Gamma?

Welcome back to Atomic Alternatives—where we spotlight how nuclear tech sneaks into everyday life in the weirdest places. This week’s feature? A little vintage radiance.

Before uranium was fueling reactors and stirring up geopolitics, it was glowing quietly in your grandma’s cabinet.

Meet uranium glass. This translucent yellow-green glassware contains trace amounts of uranium oxide (usually 2–25%), giving it that eerie, ghostly glow under UV light. And yep—it’s very mildly radioactive.

Popular from the 1800s through the 1940s, it was used in everything from candy dishes to cocktail sets. It glows green, it looks wild under blacklight, and yes—it’s technically nuclear décor.

⚠️ Should you worry?

Not really. You’d get more radiation from a cross-country flight. But maybe don’t drink your morning espresso out of it every day—uranium is chemically toxic (like lead). Admire, don’t ingest.

Production mostly halted during WWII (that uranium had... other priorities), but collectors still treasure the stuff today.

Grandma’s fine china? More like fine gamma.

😂Meme of The Week

That’s it for this week’s newsletter. Whether it’s budget cuts or blackouts, one thing stays true: nuclear keeps the lights on when everything else falters.

Stay charged, stay critical (like a reactor), and keep glowing.😎

– Fredrik
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🔗 nuclearupdate.com