Illustration: Maura Losch / Axios
Jeff Waksman has been around long enough to know that nuclear research projects often begin and end with flashy news conferences.
Why it matters: Waksman — acting assistant Army secretary for installations, energy and environment — tells Axios he's working behind the scenes to show why President Trump's nuclear ambitions are achievable using military sites.
- Waksman is charged with carrying out White House executive orders that lean on the Defense Department, in collaboration with the Energy Department, to license its own reactors.
The big picture: Waksman said the Pentagon is eager to host reactors given its massive power demand and ability to pay a premium for reliable power.
- Military sites currently rely on fossil fuels for round-the-clock off-grid power. But they can store only so much fuel and keep it safe from enemy attacks, he said.
- "We would love to have another technology that could provide power for months or years at a time without needing to be refueled," Waksman said.
- The military has a record of developing new technology, including the country's first commercial nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania: "The DOD is simply much better at moving fast," he said.
Zoom in: The DOD will seek to tackle what Waksman calls nuclear's highest hurdle: building reactors on a reasonable schedule that ultimately brings down costs.
- And because the current U.S. nuclear supply chain is designed for naval reactors, the supply chain will need to be rebuilt.
- The Army will use materials and suppliers that have already been validated as much as possible, he said.
Between the lines: Waksman said Congress could provide clarity on how far the DOD's legal authority extends to license reactors that send power to the broader grid.
- Rep. Pat Harrigan, who's working on NDAA nuclear language, told Axios that military bases could annex nearby property to house data centers or other customers of the base's nuclear reactor.
- That would free up grid capacity without crossing into NRC jurisdiction.
- Other situations "might take a little bit more work and from Congress specifically, but I think we can get there either way," Harrigan said.
What's next: Waksman said he hopes to have an announcement within a "few months" but wouldn't commit to an exact date.
