1、 itif.org Lessons From Frances Nuclear Program ROBIN GASTER|SEPTEMBER 2025 France has embarked on an ambitious program to build at least six new large nuclear reactors,applying lessons from recent overruns and delays.While success is far from guaranteed,there are important lessons for the United Sta

2、tes as it seeks to jump-start its own nuclear sector through recent ambitious executive orders.KEY TAKEAWAYS A U.S.nuclear strategy must have strong bipartisan support.Nuclear designs often take decades,and private investors need certainty.We cannot afford to change the strategy with every new admin

3、istration.The United States cannot and should not replicate Frances highly centralized government structure and dependence on EDF as a single national champion for energy.It must find alternative solutions to the functional problems this model addresses.Existing fragmented government structuresboth

4、inside and beyond DOEmust be systematically reorganized into a coherent and consistent whole that is able to demand(and provide)full accountability and oversight.A large order book is the key to cost reductionbut will be hard to build in the United States,where other sources of energy are highly com

5、petitive,there is no national security reason to build nuclear(unlike in France),and markets are fragmented.France is highly focused on large reactors,but that is a historical legacy,not a well-grounded strategy.U.S.advantages in SMRs could offer a much better alternative.Construction support can be

6、 provided through federal loans at cost,but further de-risking is needed to encourage private investment in extremely long-range and high-risk projects.The U.S.model of providing tax credits as effectively indefinite operating subsidies is flawed.There are better alternatives that connect energy sou