Trevor Hall and Justin Huhn kick off this episode of Going Nuclear by analyzing how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has accelerated a "snowballing" global theme of sovereign energy security. The hosts discuss the current market conditions and the strategic importance of long-term uranium contracting, specifically highlighting India’s recent massive procurement of nearly 50 million pounds. They also examine Germany’s public expressions of regret regarding its shuttered nuclear fleet while noting positive regulatory momentum for life extensions at California's Diablo Canyon.

The conversation then shifts to the frontier of nuclear technology with Sam Gibson, CEO of Hadron Energy, who is developing a 10-megawatt micro-reactor small enough to fit in a shipping container. Gibson details how his company leverages 70 years of light water reactor history to create factory-fabricated units that can be transported by semi-truck and are currently leading the way in NRC licensing. He explains that while remote communities and military bases offer vital use cases, data centers are the fastest-moving early adopters currently driving the company's multiple gigawatts of potential demand. Finally, the episode explores Hadron's transition to the public markets through a strategic merger, positioning the company to own and operate the resilient, carbon-free energy infrastructure of the 2030s.