Energy Secretary Chris Wright on the Future of American Energy | All-In Summit 2025

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 22:06:00 +0000

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Chris Wright Right 00:27:09 economyscience

By July 4, 2026 (or sooner), a next-generation small modular nuclear reactor will reach criticality at Idaho National Laboratory and demonstrate the ability to sell electricity into the grid.

“We will have new next generation small modular reactors critical next year. Our goal is by July 4th and I think we will beat that... it will be running on federal land... at the Idaho National Laboratory. It'll be demonstrating it can sell electricity.” View on YouTube
Explanation

Under DOE's Reactor Pilot Program (established via Trump's May 2025 executive order), the goal was to get advanced reactors to criticality by July 4, 2026. Antares Nuclear's microreactor achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory's Materials and Fuels Complex on June 4, 2026, beating the deadline as Wright predicted, with two more reactors (Valar Atomics, Aalo Atomics) following.

Chris Wright Too Early 00:13:22 economy

Fifty years from this interview (by approximately 2075), solar power will still provide less than 10% of total global energy consumption.

“if we could make a bet 50 years out, I'll I'll make a bet solar never gets to 10% of global energy.” View on YouTube
Explanation

This is a 50-year bet (to approximately 2075) made in 2025/2026, far beyond any timeframe that can be evaluated now. Solar remains a small but growing share of global energy today, consistent with either outcome; the claim cannot be assessed for decades.