The U.S. Department of Energy has put up to $5 billion behind squeezing more power out of reactors that already run. Its Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) announced on October 27, 2026 a conditional loan commitment to finance nuclear uprates and modernization across Constellation Energy's fleet in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The work will add nearly 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, according to DOE. The department says that is enough to power more than 930,000 homes, and that the projects will support more than 10,000 project-related jobs across the fleet.
Where the money goes
Constellation's planned investments cover eight plants:
| State | Plants |
|---|---|
| Illinois | Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, Quad Cities |
| Maryland | Calvert Cliffs |
| Pennsylvania | Limerick |
DOE says the added output will reach the PJM Interconnection and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regions. The commitment also includes an option to finance future uprate projects at additional Constellation facilities.
The policy behind the loan
DOE ties the loan to President Trump's Executive Order, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, which directs the department to facilitate 5 GW of power uprates from existing nuclear reactors. In March 2026, under that order, DOE launched its Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort (UPRISE), aimed at expanding nuclear capacity by maximizing generation from existing reactors. DOE says 95% of the 5-GW uprate and restart goal has now been identified.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said uprates that maximize generation from existing nuclear facilities are an example of the administration's energy addition policies. EDF Director Gregory A. Beard said the investments will add baseload power to the grid and help lower electricity costs.
What still has to happen
The commitment is not a funded loan. DOE describes it as an indication of its intent to lend. Constellation must satisfy technical, legal, environmental and financial conditions before the department signs definitive financing documents and funds the loan.
For related coverage, see our Policy section.
