Corpus Christi Chosen for Small Modular Reactor Project

The Trump administration has selected the port of Corpus Christi as one of two major U.S. oil ports for a project integrating small modular reactors (SMRs) in an effort to expand nuclear power use and propel SMR technology forward.

SMRs can be installed more quickly than conventional nuclear reactors, have flexible locations, and are cheaper to build. However, applying SMR technology has proven challenging and expensive, with NuScale canceling its project due to a lack of interest amid rising electricity costs.

The port of Corpus Christi, which handles fuel exports worth $80 billion in 2024, was chosen along with Long Beach for the project, according to Maritime Administrator Stephen Carmel. The goal is to ensure 'our critical Gulf Coast maritime supply chains remain resilient against any contingency,' including power grid disruptions.

Nuclear power has seen a resurgence as the shortcomings of intermittent power generation become apparent. The International Energy Agency (IEA) supports nuclear power, citing its potential to meet forecasted surge in electricity demand without plunging the world into energy poverty.