WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Nuclear Scaling Initiative (NSI) today announced a $3.5 million philanthropic commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate the responsible deployment of nuclear energy in the United States as a source of secure, clean, reliable power. The grant will directly support NSI's effort to facilitate an orderbook — a model that brings together multiple buyers to commit to building the same proven reactor design — for new large reactor builds of mature design in the United States.
An orderbook is one of the solutions that NSI — a partnership between Clean Air Task Force, the EFI Foundation, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative — has developed to help address the challenges that have constrained nuclear energy deployment. At the core of NSI's approach is a commitment to pursuing development pathways and technologies that champion safety, security, and nonproliferation.
An orderbook that supports construction of repeatable, standardized designs can reduce risk, lower costs over time, and provide greater certainty for developers, suppliers, and public partners — exactly what is needed as U.S. electricity demand is projected to grow by at least 50% by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
With the support of this grant, NSI will support a coordinated, multi-party process among federal, state, and commercial partners to assemble a viable orderbook. In other industries such as aviation, shipping and gas fired power, orderbooks have been instrumental in enabling manufacturers to scale production, reduce costs, and invest confidently in supply chains. By aggregating demand across multiple projects, the orderbook model enables shared learning, economies of scale and scope, and long-term supplier commitments that will lay the groundwork for fleet-scale deployment and a more predictable nuclear investment environment in the United States.
“The United States needs repeat nuclear energy builds — not one-off projects — to bolster energy security, improve grid reliability, and drive economic competitiveness,” said Steve Comello, executive director of NSI. “An orderbook can create the predictability needed to strengthen supply chains, grow a skilled workforce, and reduce the delays and cost overruns that have historically slowed progress. This approach can enable more efficient and responsible nuclear energy deployment. We're grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund for this generous contribution, which will allow NSI to significantly expand our work in the United States at a moment when responsible commercial nuclear energy deployment is critically needed.”
“The United States has a rare opportunity to turn rising energy demand into an advantage,” said Tom Taylor, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Expanding nuclear power can deliver energy abundance — clean, reliable, around-the-clock electricity that supports prosperity and good jobs — while also helping meet climate goals in a small land footprint. Our support for NSI is a targeted bet that smart coordination can unlock much larger public and private investment and turn this first reactor package into a model for many more.”
Electricity demand in the United States is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades, driven by factors including data centers, the growing electrification of industry, and everyday energy needs like heating, cooling, and transportation. Meeting this growth while maintaining grid reliability and reducing emissions will require a diverse mix of clean energy resources, including sources that can provide firm, around-the-clock power.
Multiple countries have shown that it is possible to scale nuclear energy by doing the same thing again and again: standardizing designs, committing to repeat construction, and driving costs down over time. The orderbook approach aims to help the United States regain that competitive edge — moving from one-off projects to now a repeatable model that proves nuclear can be built efficiently, affordably, and at scale.
About the Nuclear Scaling Initiative
The Nuclear Scaling Initiative is a collaborative effort of Clean Air Task Force, the EFI Foundation, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative to build a new nuclear energy ecosystem that can quickly and economically scale to 50+ gigawatts of safe and secure nuclear energy globally per year by the 2030s. NSI's plan for revolutionizing how nuclear energy is constructed, financed, and regulated will advance climate goals, spark economic development, expand energy access, and ensure that nuclear technology is used for only peaceful purposes. Learn more at www.nuclearscaling.org.
About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund is helping transform the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion to protect nature and address climate change. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success, and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature. To learn more about the Bezos Earth Fund, visit: bezosearthfund.org.
Hana HodaliBezos Earth Fundhana.hodali@bezosearthfund.orgNatalie VolkClean Air Task Forcenvolk@catf.us