International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2025
The International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2025 would enlarge the United States’ role in promoting nuclear energy financing through multilateral development banks (MDBs) like the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and, as appropriate, other MDBs. It does two main things: (1) it directs U.S. influence within these banks to push for allowing financial and technical support for nuclear energy and to build the banks’ internal capacity to assess such projects; and (2) it creates Nuclear Energy Assistance Trust Funds at these institutions to fund and manage financial and technical support for nuclear energy projects that meet or exceed U.S. or allied standards, with rules governing how revenues can be used. The bill also requires annual reporting on progress and includes a 10-year sunset for the key authorities. Overall, the bill aims to accelerate the use of nuclear energy as a low-carbon power source by leveraging international financial institutions, while tying support to adherence to U.S.-style safety and quality standards and ensuring accountability through reporting and a defined funding mechanism. It would potentially shift some decision-making and financing dynamics at MDBs toward promoting nuclear energy in borrowing countries.
Key Points
- 1Section 1506 (Multilateral Development Bank Support for Nuclear Energy): The Secretary of the Treasury would instruct U.S. representatives at MDBs to advocate for removing prohibitions on financing and technical assistance for nuclear energy, provided the technologies meet or exceed U.S. or allied standards, and to enhance the banks’ ability to assess the role of nuclear energy in client countries. The provision has a 10-year sunset.
- 2Section 1507 (Establishment of Nuclear Energy Assistance Trust Funds): The Secretary would direct U.S. Governors/Executive Directors to create at each targeted MDB a Nuclear Energy Assistance Trust Fund. Purposes include providing financial and technical assistance for nuclear energy generation and distribution, ensuring financing terms are competitive (including countering non-OECD export credit advantages), exclusively supporting technologies meeting U.S. or allied standards, and strengthening the institutions’ ability to assess and implement nuclear projects. Revenues can be used for these purposes or remitted to the U.S. Treasury. There is also a 10-year sunset.
- 3Section 5 (Inclusion in Annual Report): For seven years after enactment, the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies must report on progress promoting MDB nuclear energy assistance and the status of the trust funds, or summarize their activities.
- 4General Findings: Emphasizes nuclear energy’s role as an emissions-free power source, notes concerns about China and Russia exporting reactors and the associated safety and influence risks, cites global interest in nuclear and SMR deployment, and references a coalition pledge to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 with a push to finance through MDBs.
- 5Short Title: The act may be cited as the “International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2025.”