Electricity demand is booming, and it’s not just because of artificial intelligence. So much so that many are ready to revisit the idea of nuclear power. Microsoft signed a $16 billion deal to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power their data centres for the next 20 years.

But developed countries haven’t built more than a handful of new reactors in decades. When they have tried, the cost of those nuclear plants and the time to build them has been extraordinary. Will this renewed interest yield different results? Nuclear scientist and partner at venture capital firm DCVC Rachel Slaybaugh joined Akshat Rathi on Zero to discuss how these new dreams of growing nuclear power can become a reality.

Explore further:
Nuclear Fusion Is Unlimited Clean Power. So When Can We Have It?
Long-Unloved Nuclear Power Is Staging a Comeback
UK Inks Investment Deals on £38 Billion Nuclear Plant
Three Mile Island's Nuclear Reboot Moves Into the Fast Lane in Win for Microsoft

Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Eleanor Harrison Dengate, Siobhan Wagner, Sommer Saadi and Mohsis Andam. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

Electricity demand is booming, and it&rsquo;s not just because of artificial intelligence. So much so that many are ready to revisit the idea of nuclear power. Microsoft signed a $16 billion deal to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power their data centres for the next 20 years.
But developed countries haven&rsquo;t built more than a handful of new reactors in decades. When they have tried, the cost of those nuclear plants and the time to build them has been extraordinary. Will this renewed interest yield different results? Nuclear scientist and partner at venture capital firm DCVC Rachel Slaybaugh joined Akshat Rathi on&nbsp;Zero to discuss how these new dreams of growing nuclear power can become a reality.
Explore further:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-26/nuclear-fusion-is-unlimited-clean-power-so-when-can-we-have-it">Nuclear Fusion Is Unlimited Clean Power. So When Can We Have It?</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-24/nuclear-power-makes-comeback-driven-by-climate-change-ai-energy-demands">Long-Unloved Nuclear Power Is Staging a Comeback</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-22/uk-approves-landmark-38-billion-sizewell-c-nuclear-plant">UK Inks Investment Deals on &pound;38 Billion Nuclear Plant</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-06-30/three-mile-island-s-nuclear-reboot-moves-into-the-fast-lane-in-win-for-microsoft">Three Mile Island's Nuclear Reboot Moves Into the Fast Lane in Win for Microsoft</a></li>
</ul>
Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Eleanor Harrison Dengate, Siobhan Wagner, Sommer Saadi and Mohsis Andam. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

Zero is about the tactics and technologies taking us to a world of zero emissions. Each week Bloomberg’s award-winning reporter Akshat Rathi talks to the people tackling climate change – a venture capitalist hunting for the best cleantech investment, scientists starting companies, politicians who have successfully created climate laws, and CEOs who have completely transformed their businesses. The road to zero emissions has many paths and everyone’s got an opinion about the best route. Listen in.

Zero: The Climate Race

Zero

How rich countries can build cheap nuclear power again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7761bbf3-1a8b-40f4-a142-b33100ec8e35/transcript

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