ACE Nuclear Energy Act of 2026

The American Competitiveness for Exports in Nuclear Energy (ACE Nuclear Energy) Act of 2026 proposes to strengthen the United States' position in the global nuclear energy market. It aims to do this by amending the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to provide more flexible and competitive financing for large-scale nuclear projects. Specifically, the bill would exclude certain high-value nuclear financing from the bank's statutory default rate calculations, which currently limits the bank's ability to support multi-billion-dollar energy investments.

In addition to financial reforms, the bill proposes to allow the Export-Import Bank to offer market-competitive compensation for specialized employees. This is intended to help the agency recruit and retain the technical expertise necessary to evaluate complex nuclear energy deals. By addressing these financial and personnel barriers, the legislation seeks to help American companies compete more effectively against state-backed nuclear industries from countries like China and Russia.

If enacted, the bill could lead to increased international demand for American nuclear technology, potentially supporting domestic manufacturing jobs and the broader nuclear supply chain. For everyday citizens, the bill represents an effort to use federal financing tools to boost American industrial exports and maintain U.S. leadership in clean energy technology abroad.