One of the biggest races in the nuclear power industry is to commercialize small modular reactors—which, at a fraction of the size of a traditional nuclear plant, can still produce about a third of the power of a standard reactor. The hype around this next generation of nuclear power hinges on the promise of providing AI data centers with all the energy they could possibly need. And with a market cap currently over $4 billion, at time of publishing, Oklo is one the hyperscalers are watching closely. Founded by couple Caroline and Jacob DeWitte in 2013, the company began construction last year on its Aurora “powerhouse” fast-fission power plant in Idaho and hopes to have it operational by 2028. Rather than using water like traditional nuclear power plants, Oklo’s fast fission utilizes sodium as a coolant. Oklo, which was backed by Sam Altman before he launched OpenAI and has close ties to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, has benefitted from the Trump Administration’s push to accelerate nuclear power development. In January, Oklo announced it was partnering with Meta to develop a 1.2 gigawatt nuclear power campus in Ohio for the social media company’s data centers. —Kyla Mandel
What is the single most important action you think the public, or a specific company or government, needs to take in the next year to advance the climate agenda?
I would like to see more companies commit to buying the clean energy they need in ways that help get it built. A long-term customer commitment can make a real difference in whether a project can get financed and move into construction. When my co-founder and I started Oklo, we saw a gap between what nuclear technology could do and what customers could actually buy. Customers wanted reliable, clean power. Most did not want to take on building and operating a nuclear plant themselves. That shaped our whole business model: We would own and operate the plants and sell the power.
I think that lesson applies across clean energy. You have to understand what people need, what they are willing to pay for and how to deliver it. In the next year, companies with significant energy needs have an opportunity to become the customers that help promising projects become real.
What is a climate solution that isn't getting the attention or funding it deserves?
The work of helping communities understand and shape what gets built around them. I think we can get so focused on explaining a technology that we forget to start by asking what people want to know. What will this mean for their land, their water, their families? What opportunities will it create, and what responsibilities come with it? Those are important questions, and answering them thoughtfully takes time, people and resources. That work should begin early, while there is still an opportunity for what you learn to influence the project. It means listening, doing the environmental work, explaining how safety is evaluated and being clear about what you know and what still needs to be resolved. You also have to keep showing up as the project moves forward.
With nuclear, there is a broader conversation to be had about how these activities fit together: producing clean power, recovering energy from used fuel through recycling and producing isotopes that support medicine. Each has its own benefits and responsibilities. People deserve to understand both. I would like to see investment in community engagement treated as an essential part of building this infrastructure, with the same care and continuity we bring to the technical work.
What gives you hope about the future of the planet?
I think what gives me the most hope is seeing things become real. For a long time, so many conversations about advanced nuclear were about what might happen someday. Now projects are moving into construction, teams are gaining experience and people are seeing what these technologies can make possible. That matters because every project teaches us something we can carry into the next one. At Oklo, taking our first reactor—the Groves Isotope Test Reactor—from greenfield to criticality in less than a year brought together people across engineering, construction and operations. That experience helps lay the groundwork for future projects, including producing isotopes that support medicine. Across nuclear, there is also an opportunity to recover energy still contained in used fuel, turning something people think of as waste into a resource for more clean power.
What is encouraging is how many different people have a role in making this work. No one has all the answers. It takes people who are willing to learn from each other and figure out a path forward. As more teams build that experience, the tenth and hundredth projects start to feel much more achievable. That is how we get to meaningful impact.
Do you think AI will help or worsen the climate crisis?
I think it can help, but it is not automatic. There is real potential in helping people solve difficult problems and accelerating scientific discovery. There is also a very practical question: Where is the power for AI going to come from? There is a big opportunity to support AI’s growth with clean, reliable energy from the beginning. Nuclear can be an important part of that because it provides around-the-clock, baseload power without emitting carbon during operation. That fits the need for dependable electricity while supporting the climate goals of companies investing in AI.
What interests me is how that demand can help get new clean energy built. One of the hardest parts is financing everything that has to happen before you can deliver electricity. A customer willing to make a long-term commitment or provide upfront payments can help a project secure fuel, order equipment and begin construction. And the opportunity extends beyond AI. Homes, hospitals and manufacturers need reliable, affordable electricity too. If this investment helps us expand clean energy supply and build the experience to keep deploying it, the benefits can reach many more people. Doing that well also means engaging communities early and following through on our environmental and safety responsibilities.