After decades of decline, nuclear energy is experiencing a surprising revival. The technology industry now promotes nuclear power as essential for meeting electricity demands from artificial intelligence. Rising energy needs across sectors combined with climate concerns have shifted public sentiment back toward nuclear as a viable solution to power-hungry data centers.

The last major nuclear construction boom ended around 1990, leaving the industry dormant for three decades. Since then, natural gas, wind and solar dominated energy investments. Now, the Vogtle plant in Georgia, operated by Southern Co., stands as the nation's most recent nuclear project, potentially signaling a new era for nuclear development.

Chris Womack, CEO of Southern Co., emphasizes that the U.S. requires a diverse energy portfolio including nuclear power. The tech sector's growing appetite for electricity creates new market opportunities for nuclear providers as utilities seek reliable, clean power sources amid increasing climate goals that intermittent renewables cannot consistently meet.