Gregory A. Beard
Iowa has long played an important role in powering America. The Hawkeye State understands that reliable energy, good-paying jobs and economic growth go hand in hand. Now, Iowa is poised to lead again — this time as part of President Trump’s American nuclear renaissance.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) has closed a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy to help finance the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County. Bringing Iowa’s only nuclear power plant back online is a major milestone for the state and another step toward restoring American nuclear leadership.
For Iowans, the restart of Duane Arnold means three things: jobs, reliability, and leadership.
First, it means American jobs and economic opportunity.
The restart unlocks enormous economic potential for Eastern Iowa. DOE’s investment is creating thousands of construction and refurbishment jobs, followed by hundreds of high-quality, long-term positions once the plant is operational again.
Restarting Duane Arnold means putting valuable American energy infrastructure back to work, strengthening the regional economy and producing more power here at home. Major economic studies forecast more than $9 billion in economic benefits for Iowa, providing a transformative boost to communities from Cedar Rapids to rural cooperative territories that rely on dependable baseload power.
Restarting Duane Arnold also supports the Trump administration’s broader goal of energy abundance. By adding firm, domestic power to the grid rather than decommissioning existing sources, Iowa is strengthening long-term energy capacity and ensuring communities can grow with confidence.
These are not theoretical gains. EDF’s financing of Duane Arnold means more paychecks, more investment in local communities and more opportunity for Iowa families and businesses for decades to come.
Second, Duane Arnold delivers the reliable electricity that Iowa and the Midwest increasingly need.
Electricity demand is growing as manufacturers expand, businesses invest, and communities across Iowa and the Midwest grow. Meeting that demand requires an energy system capable of delivering dependable electricity around the clock while supporting economic growth and keeping America competitive.
Nuclear energy provides the firm, baseload power needed to support a reliable electric grid. Duane Arnold will generate enough baseload electricity to power nearly 500,000 homes, bringing a significant source of dependable American energy back to Iowa and the Midwest. Through EDF’s financing, the Trump administration is bringing that power back online, strengthening our nation’s grid reliability and unleashing American energy dominance.
Third, Iowa is helping demonstrate how America can restore its nuclear leadership.
President Trump has called for an American nuclear renaissance, and thanks to Secretary Chris Wright’s leadership, the Department of Energy is delivering. That means restarting existing reactors, increasing output from the current nuclear fleet, strengthening the domestic nuclear supply chain and accelerating new nuclear generation.
Duane Arnold demonstrates why restarts are an important part of that strategy. The financial close of a loan of up to $1.9 billion to support Duane Arnold’s restart marks another major step in the Department of Energy’s efforts to advance President Trump’s American nuclear renaissance. EDF has now financed three nuclear plant restarts — demonstrating how strategic investments in existing energy assets are bringing more reliable American power online and advancing American nuclear leadership.
America needs more reliable power, more skilled American jobs, and states willing to lead the way. The return of Duane Arnold reflects values familiar across the Hawkeye State: putting Americans to work, building things that last, and investing in the reliable energy America needs to grow.
Iowa is showing the rest of the country how.
Restarting Duane Arnold is proof that Iowa is leading President Trump’s American nuclear renaissance and powering America’s future.
Gregory A. Beard is director of the Office of Energy Dominance Financing in the U.S. Department of Energy.