The United States is home to more than 90,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, stored across over 100 sites in 39 states. Most of this highly radioactive material sits in dry casks above ground, a stopgap solution now stretching into decades. With no permanent federal repository and demand for clean energy surging, the question is no longer just where to store nuclear waste—but how to transform it into power.

In a landmark moment for nuclear energy policy, President Donald Trump on May 23, 2025, signed a suite of five executive orders aimed at fast-tracking America’s nuclear energy industry. These orders seek to expand reactor construction, streamline regulation, promote uranium mining, and crucially, explore the recycling of nuclear waste into new reactor fuel. At the same time, innovators in Europe and the U.S. are developing next-generation reactors that could do just that.

Thorizon: A European Vision for Waste-to-Energy

One of the most promising technological breakthroughs comes from Thorizon, a Franco-Dutch deep-tech startup that raised $46 million to develop a molten salt reactor (MSR) designed to run on spent nuclear fuel and thorium. Their flagship project, Thorizon One, is set to launch by 2030. It will produce up to 100 megawatts of electricity or 250 megawatts of industrial heat—enough to power over 250,000 homes for more than 40 years.

What makes Thorizon’s technology groundbreaking is its cartridge-based system: steel cylinders filled with molten salt and radioactive waste that can be safely swapped out when depleted. This approach solves material degradation issues, enhances safety, and turns long-feared waste into a resource.

CEO Kiki Leuwers estimates Europe’s nuclear waste could power the continent for 40 years; in the U.S., that figure could reach 100 years.

Executive Orders: Trump Reboots U.S. Nuclear Strategy

Trump’s May 2025 executive actions are perhaps the boldest federal move on nuclear energy in decades. The four core orders:

• Authorize nuclear reactors on federally owned land, including for AI data centers and defense applications

• Reform Department of Energy research to focus on next-gen reactors

• Overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue licenses within 18 months

• Expand domestic uranium mining and enrichment

A fifth order called for the restoration of “gold standard science” in federal research. Standing with nuclear CEOs and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump described the nuclear industry as “hot” and essential to national energy and security goals.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum added the orders would “turn back the clock on 50 years of overregulation,” addressing key pain points that have stalled U.S. reactor projects for years.

Why Isn’t the U.S. Already Recycling Nuclear Waste?

Despite the potential, America largely abandoned nuclear recycling after the Cold War. Fast reactors built in the 1960s and ‘70s showed promise but were phased out due to:

• Proliferation risks, especially from plutonium byproducts

• Low uranium prices, which made new fuel cheaper than recycling

Today, most spent fuel is stored in steel canisters at plant sites, including those near saltwater coasts where corrosion poses risks. Efforts to build a deep geological repository at Yucca Mountain have stalled since 2011 due to political opposition. A Supreme Court ruling on a temporary storage site is expected in mid-2025.

Private Sector Takes the Lead

While federal storage policy languishes, private companies are accelerating nuclear innovation. U.S.-based firms like TerraPower and X-energy have each raised over $1 billion to commercialize SMRs (small modular reactors) that could run on recycled fuel. Tech giants such as Amazon and Google are backing these technologies to meet skyrocketing data center demands, driven by generative AI.

Consulting firm ICF International projects a 25% increase in U.S. electricity demand by 2030 and 78% by 2050. Nuclear power—especially if fueled by recycled waste—could provide the baseload stability that solar and wind can’t always guarantee.

Recycling Challenges and Cautions

Not everyone is on board. Nonproliferation experts warn that recycling could enable weapons-grade plutonium production or become a target for extremist groups. Others caution that loosening NRC oversight could increase the risk of accidents or environmental contamination.

Still, the momentum is clear. With support from the White House and a wave of private investment, the U.S. could soon follow Europe’s lead in redefining nuclear waste as an energy asset rather than a liability.

Conclusion: Closing the Loop on Nuclear Fuel

The U.S. has spent decades avoiding its nuclear waste dilemma. But with rising energy demands, international competition, and new technology on the table, the country may be on the verge of a nuclear renaissance.

If Thorizon’s molten salt reactors prove successful and Trump’s regulatory reforms take hold, the nation could finally close the loop on its nuclear fuel cycle—transforming 90,000 tons of radioactive waste into clean, scalable power for a carbon-constrained future.