Light Water Reactor Sustainability
Sustaining National Nuclear Assets
The mission of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program is to develop the scientific basis, and science-based methodologies and tools, for the safe economical long-term operation of the nation’s high-performing fleet of commercial nuclear energy facilities.
DOE UPRISE: Existing-Fleet Nuclear Scorecard
America’s demand for electricity is growing faster than it has in decades, driven by advanced manufacturing, data centers and the needs of a growing economy. Nuclear energy already supplies about one-fifth of the nation’s electricity, reliably and around the clock. The fastest, most affordable way to add more is to get more from the nuclear plants and sites we already have.
UPRISE, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort, brings together DOE programs, national laboratories, utilities, regulators and industry to expand nuclear capacity in the near term by:
- Increasing the output of operating reactors
- Restarting recently closed plants
- Extending plant operating lives
- Completing stalled projects
- Preparing existing sites for new nuclear construction
The initiative supports national goals of adding at least 5 gigawatts of new capacity from the existing fleet by 2030 and establishing a path to deliver 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050.
UPRISE of Nuclear Energy for Power Demand Growth
(Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort)
When: October 29th, 2026
Where: The Downtown Event Center – Idaho Falls, ID
Growing demand from data centers and industrial development is creating new opportunities to expand nuclear energy capacity. UPRISE brings industry and federal leaders together to discuss how existing and new nuclear power plants can help meet that demand.
Participants will discuss plans to increase capacity through plant uprates and new reactors, federal plans supporting near-term nuclear energy deployment, policy considerations, and coordination among utilities, industry and government.
UPRISE takes place on the final day of the INL Data Center Workshop 2026. The registration page allows you to select UPRISE and any other workshop sessions you plan to attend.
