Yahoo Finance·2026-03-12 16:50Group 1: Energy Demand and Data Centers - Energy demand in the United States is projected to grow by 4% annually through 2030, primarily driven by the construction of data centers for the AI industry [1] - The energy demand from data centers as a percentage of total energy demand in the U.S. is expected to increase from 4.3% in 2024 to 11.7% by 2030 [1] Group 2: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - Small modular reactor (SMR) companies like Oklo and NuScale Power are positioned to benefit from the energy needs of data centers and AI industries, providing clean and scalable power sources [2] - A report from Goldman Sachs indicates that SMRs are gaining significant public and private sector support, marking a shift in the perception of nuclear fission technology [5] - SMR technology has been in development for over 20 years, with only a few small projects currently in commercial operation globally, facing challenges such as high construction costs and long lead times [5] Group 3: AI Industry and Power Needs - The current surge in AI could unlock the potential for SMR stocks, as AI businesses and their supporting industries, like data center operators, require more power and may accept higher operational costs for dedicated and reliable energy sources [6] - SMR technologies are particularly advantageous for deployment in remote, cold-weather locations, where cooling costs are lower, making them attractive to data center operators [6]