DOE grants $4.2 billion loan to Vistra for nuclear upgrades in Pennsylvania and Ohio

The U.S. Department of Energy on October 5, 2026 announced a conditional loan commitment of $4.2 billion to Vistra Corp. for upgrades and modernization of its three operating nuclear power plants: Beaver Valley in Pennsylvania and Davis‑Besse and Perry in Ohio.

“By getting more power out of the nuclear plants we already have, we can deliver more affordable, reliable, around‑the‑clock energy for American families and businesses,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

The upgrades are expected to add about 433 megawatts of capacity to the grid, a boost that could serve roughly 3,000 jobs during construction and operation. Together, the three reactors already generate nearly 4 gigawatts—enough electricity for more than three million homes.

The loan is part of the Energy Department’s Energy Dominance Financing office, which holds over $250 billion in lending authority. It follows previous nuclear financing, including $1.5 billion for Holtec’s Palisades restart, $1 billion for Constellation’s Crane plant, and $1.9 billion for NextEra’s Duane Arnold project.

Administration officials say the investment aligns with President Trump’s pledge to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050, a goal framed around expanding baseload power for data centers, artificial‑intelligence workloads, and broader economic growth. Upgraded reactors are expected to improve reliability and extend operating licenses, reinforcing the role of nuclear energy in a low‑carbon electricity mix.

Vistra will use the loan to replace aging equipment, enhance safety systems, and implement advanced digital monitoring across the three sites. The company expects the modernized plants to operate more efficiently, delivering cleaner electricity while supporting local economies.

Further details on the loan’s disbursement schedule and project milestones will be released by the Energy Department in the coming weeks.