Nuclear power stocks soar as the U.S. Army announces the "Janus" plan to power bases with micro nuclear reactors

The U.S. Army plans to deploy micro nuclear reactors at domestic military bases, with the reactors owned and operated by commercial companies. On Wednesday, U.S. stocks saw a rise in nuclear power shares. As of the time of publication, Oklo Inc. was up over 7%, Centrus Energy was up over 13%, and NuScale Power had at one point risen over 23%.

The U.S. military announced on Tuesday the launch of the "Janus" program, which aims to provide micro reactors for various military bases by 2028. This will help the U.S. Army maintain the continuous operation of weapon systems and key bases during severe weather, cyberattacks, or other events that lead to power grid failures.

"Janus" Program: Addressing Dual Energy Challenges

The core of the "Janus" program is to deploy micro nuclear reactors with a power output of less than 20 megawatts. These reactors are small enough to be transported by container ships or airplanes, yet their power output is sufficient to support the electricity needs of a small town.

This initiative aims to address the multiple energy dilemmas faced by U.S. Army bases.

On one hand, the vulnerability of the existing power grid is becoming increasingly apparent. Military bases in Texas and California have experienced power outages due to snowstorms, and many bases still rely on aging public grids and fossil fuels as backup power sources, while renewable energy sources like solar and wind face intermittency issues.

On the other hand, according to a Department of Defense official, many of the Army's new weapon systems, including drones, anti-drone systems, and radar systems, have a sharply increasing demand for energy, and existing power supply facilities are struggling to meet these needs.

President Trump signed an executive order in May calling for the federal government to deploy modern nuclear reactors for national security purposes and directed the Army Secretary to begin using reactors at military bases by September 2028.

Privatized Operation with Government Support

According to the plan, these micro reactors will be owned and operated by commercial companies, with the U.S. Army and the Department of Energy providing support in terms of technology and critical uranium fuel supply.

U.S. Army Chief Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Waksman stated that the Army is selecting nine bases for the initial phase of the project and will choose commercial suppliers to build two micro reactors for each base before next year.

Valar Atomics, a micro reactor startup established two years ago, has built a micro reactor and plans to bid for the Janus contract. The company's CEO and founder Isaiah Taylor stated:

"Today's competition is about truly developing capabilities. We are all trying to figure out who can start these devices."