A federally backed Westinghouse plan to build 10 nuclear reactors could help shore up the strained U.S. power supply and support tens of thousands of jobs, per a new report.

Why it matters: Surging power demand and mounting grid strain are setting the stage for a nuclear renaissance, and Cranberry-based Westinghouse is seeking a central role in President Trump's push to accelerate energy supply.

Catch up quick: The U.S. government in October inked a partnership with Westinghouse's owners to support at least $80 billion in new nuclear builds, months after Trump's executive order directing the U.S. to start construction on 10 new reactors by 2030.

• Westinghouse says its modern AP1000 pressurized water reactors can deliver.

Driving the news: Westinghouse yesterday released a PwC analysis that, for the first time, puts hard numbers on the potential economic impact of building its reactor fleet — from upfront investment to decades of plant operations.

By the numbers: The report estimates the fleet would generate over $1 trillion in GDP during its 80-year lifespan.

• Once operational, the project would support 5,000 direct jobs annually and 17,500 more indirectly through supply chain and broader economic impacts, analysts said.
• The fleet could support an estimated 44,300 direct and indirect jobs annually over its 13-year construction phase.
• Ten AP1000 reactors can power at least 7.5 million homes, which Westinghouse says supports Trump's bid to quadruple nuclear generation by 2050.

Yes, but: Years of delays and soaring costs at Westinghouse's Vogtle project in Georgia underscore the hurdles facing the next wave of reactor builds.

• Developers are banking on hard-won lessons and bipartisan political momentum — including Trump's orders last May reducing regulations and speeding licensing — to clear a path for faster deployment.

Case in point: One 2024 MIT study estimated the next AP1000 reactors built in the U.S. could cost about half as much as the Vogtle units, thanks to lessons learned from Georgia and other global deployments — and Westinghouse expects its now-standardized design to streamline the process.

What we're watching: Whether the plan, along with the billions more in energy and tech investments promised by state and federal leaders, delivers lasting gains for Pennsylvania's workforce and economy.

• The report did not specify reactor sites or assess the project's economic impact on Pennsylvania.

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Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off Downtown at 10am Saturday, but the celebrations span the whole weekend and roll right through Tuesday.

Here are a few ways to turn up the Irish cheer.

• ✒️ St. Patrick's Flash Tattoos | Friday-Sunday | Times vary | Pittsburgh Tattoo Co. | Tattoos starting at $60 and $15 off piercings
• 🍺 Irish City Celebration | Saturday | 8am-4pm | Pittsburgh Brewing Co. | $19.25
• ☘️ St. Patrick's Day Celebrations | Through Tuesday | Times vary | Cork Harbour Pub | Free
• 🧡 Parade After Party | Saturday | Ends at 11pm | Eleventh Hour Brewing Co. | Free
• 🍳 Kegs n' Eggs | Saturday | 8am-11am | City Works | $25
• 🌈 St. Patrick's Day Block Party | Saturday | 9am-9pm | Coop De Ville | Free
• 💚 St. Paddy Wagon | Saturday | Noon-9pm | Inner Groove Brewing Verona | $7

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📽️ The Three Rivers Film Festival was named the No. 3 best film festival in the nation in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. This year's festival is Nov. 5-15. (Press release)

⛽️ Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill to suspend the state's motor fuel tax for 60 days as the Iran war drives up gas prices. The average price of gas in the Pittsburgh area was $3.75 a gallon yesterday, up 50 cents from a month ago, per AAA. (York Daily Record)

🏘️ Rep. Summer Lee announced $3 million in federal support for Allegheny County affordable housing. County Exec Sara Innamorato said it will help move residents from temporary shelters into stable homes. (WPXI)

👶 Unionized nurses at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, where nearly half of all Allegheny County births take place, are proposing nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as they work to negotiate their first contract with the health care system.

• UPMC said the proposal doesn't reflect clinical realities and wouldn't address the national nursing shortage. (TribLive)

It's the final fish face-off.

Context: Hundreds of you have voted, narrowing down the best fish fries from 16 churches, fire halls, social clubs and more.

Zoom in: The final round pits Croatian National Hall Javor on the North Side against Swissvale Volunteer Fire Department.

• St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church in Munhall was taken out, and even the banjo band at Allegheny Elks Lodge No. 339 on the North Side couldn't pull it to victory.

How it works: Vote in the final round today, and we will announce the winner tomorrow.

• Voting ends at 2pm.

Vote here!

Pennsylvania meets just 32% of its mental health workforce needs, leaving many patients to seek care out-of-network or go without treatment, per a new report from advocacy group Inseparable.

Zoom in: Low pay, steep education costs and provider burnout are key factors in the shortage of mental health professionals, per the report.

Case in point: For every $1 a physician assistant earns in Pennsylvania, a therapist earns 81 cents, Inseparable found.

The bottom line: The report found no state has enough mental health workers to meet demand, and nearly half of Americans with a mental health condition go untreated.