By General James Jones
The U.S. military’s reliance on current energy sources constrains its ability to adopt new warfighting technologies and increases its vulnerability to attacks. Advances in micro nuclear power plants offer a transformative solution to these challenges — but only if the Pentagon and Congress act decisively to streamline implementation.
Energy supply and security are fundamental to military power projection. A resilient and self-sufficient energy supply chain is critical to sustaining operations and withstanding the complexities of modern warfare, particularly when facing a strategic rival like China. As highlighted in the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2023 Operational Energy Strategy, “successful military capabilities are underwritten by assured access to sufficient and secure supplies of energy.”
The good news is that the capability to secure such energy already exists. Micro nuclear power plants provide clean energy with no greenhouse gas emissions and can operate continuously, generating between 1 MW and 20 MW of electricity with minimal oversight. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) emphasizes the numerous advantages of microreactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), including flexible siting and significantly reduced construction time and costs. Compared to traditional nuclear power plants, which can take five to ten years and cost $4 billion to $6 billion to build, microreactors can be deployed in just two years at a cost of approximately $200 million. These features make them ideal for remote locations where traditional power grids are inadequate.
Take Guam as a case in point. This U.S. territory, located on the front lines of potential Indo-Pacific conflicts, is a prime candidate for micro nuclear energy to bolster military operations and grid resilience. As a key military hub, Guam will play a pivotal role in America’s Indo-Pacific strategy for decades. However, its aging energy grid and reliance on imported fuel, leaves it dangerously exposed. In a crisis, adversaries such as China could launch cyberattacks against the grid or disrupt traditional fuel supply chains, compromising the island’s operational capabilities.
Micro nuclear power plants are specifically designed with safety and resilience in mind. They use passive safety systems to prevent overheating and meltdowns, and many are engineered to withstand even direct aircraft strikes. Additionally, microreactors are easier to decommission than traditional gigawatt-scale plants. Beyond military applications, DOE’s national laboratories have identified microreactors as a potential asset for rapid disaster response, further underscoring their versatility.
American energy companies, universities, and national laboratories are already pioneering the development of small-scale nuclear plants. The critical question is how the U.S. military can harness this potential to lead the global deployment of micro-nuclear technology. The expertise, technological infrastructure, and private sector innovation required to design, build, and integrate microreactors at scale already exist. What remains lacking are the necessary policy reforms and conditions to enable the government to leverage market solutions and accelerate deployment at military installations.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has recognized the potential of micro-nuclear power for enhancing military resilience and is exploring regulatory pathways to expedite their deployment.
However, realizing these benefits will require decisive action from Congress and Pentagon leadership.
The Trump Administration must cut the bureaucratic red tape that routinely hinders the development and licensing of new energy technologies and encourage Pentagon leadership to embrace fast-track deployment. That includes utilizing existing DOD authorities to license micro-nuclear power plants on bases; increasing the use of procurement authorities, like Other Transaction Agreements, that can accelerate the deployment of these technologies; and working more closely with U.S. National Laboratories that have the technical and regulatory expertise to advance these projects.
These actions will not only strengthen America’s military posture but also catalyze significant economic benefits. Microreactor development and deployment will generate high-quality jobs across engineering, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Moreover, integrating micro-nuclear power into the civilian grid will contribute to the stabilization of the national energy system and help achieve clean energy goals. [Source: International Atomic Energy Agency]
As tensions with China escalate, the need for energy resilience and security in the Indo-Pacific has never been more urgent. Micro-nuclear power plants represent a critical pathway to ensuring long-term operational capability and strategic advantage for U.S. forces. By embracing this transformative technology, the U.S. can safeguard its military strength while fostering innovation and energy independence for decades to come.
General James Jones and his company Jones Group International provide senior advisory consulting services in the energy industry.
