U.S. power generation policy shifts towards reliable capacity

U.S. power generation policy is moving towards more active government support for reliable, domestically controlled electricity capacity. This report examines the expanding federal role in nuclear energy, including research funding, loans, regulatory reform, fuel-supply support and direct investment in private companies.

Why we chose this report

Although this report focuses on nuclear energy rather than coal, it provides valuable insight into the changing direction of US power policy. The federal government’s growing willingness to support firm generation through financing, regulatory reform and direct investment has broader implications for the electricity market. With demand rising and new nuclear capacity likely to take years to deliver, the shift towards energy security and reliable domestic generation could influence the pace of coal-plant retirements and the role of existing coal capacity.

Source: Oxford Institute for Energy Studies