Department of Energy to expand nuclear fuel supply chain with new campus initiative

The US Department of Energy is set to unveil plans to expand the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, proposing the creation of “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses” as part of a broader push to accelerate nuclear development, according to CNBC.

States will be invited to compete to host the facilities, which would support fuel enrichment, recycling, and other stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The DOE said consolidating these activities in a single location could lower transportation costs and improve efficiency.

The campuses could also reduce the amount of spent fuel sent to long-term storage sites. Officials said the program could draw tens of billions of dollars in private investment and create jobs.

The initiative comes amid renewed interest in nuclear power as a stable, emissions-free energy source. In January 2026, the DOE announced $2.7 billion in awards over the next decade to rebuild domestic uranium enrichment capacity.

Funding included $900 million for three companies to produce low-enriched uranium and low-enriched uranium with high assay. The DOE also established a Nuclear Fuel Cycle Consortium to streamline uranium production and recycling agreements.

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