ACE Nuclear Energy Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill changes how the Export-Import Bank of the United States manages loans for nuclear energy. It would stop nuclear power projects from being counted in the bank's official default rate, which tracks how many loans are not being paid back.
• Nuclear projects are very expensive and take many years to complete. Because they are so complex, they can be seen as risky. Removing them from the default calculation allows the bank to support more nuclear exports without risking a shutdown of its other lending activities.
• The bill also allows the bank to offer higher, more competitive pay for up to 100 employees. This is meant to help the government hire experts who have the specific skills needed to handle multi-billion dollar international energy deals.
• Supporters believe these changes will help American companies compete with foreign businesses that are often backed by their own governments. By making it easier to get loans, the U.S. hopes to sell more nuclear technology and materials to other countries.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.