By North State Free Press Syndicate Staff
As California continues to wrestle with rising electricity prices and an overstretched power grid, Hungary is turning to a strategy many U.S. policymakers have largely avoided: expanding nuclear energy production.
Last week, the Hungarian government announced it would proceed with its Paks 2 nuclear power project in partnership with Russia’s Rosatom, after the United States lifted sanctions that had previously held the project back. The new reactors are expected to supply up to 70% of Hungary’s electricity by the 2030s, replacing billions of cubic meters of imported natural gas and slashing national carbon emissions by an estimated 17 million tons annually.
Unlike California—where nuclear power has faced political headwinds despite the state’s clean energy goals—Hungary views nuclear as a central part of its long-term strategy for affordable, stable, and low-emissions energy.
“Nuclear energy is essential for Hungary’s affordable, safe, and sustainable electricity supply,” said Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. “This is a practical matter—not an ideological one.”
Hungary is a U.S. ally and NATO member, and its decision to proceed with the project has drawn international attention, not only because of its partnership with Rosatom but because of what it signals about energy priorities. At a time when many governments are searching for ways to reduce carbon output without destabilizing their power grids, Hungary is leaning on a form of energy that some Western states have distanced themselves from.
In California, efforts have largely focused on wind, solar, and battery storage—even as the state’s grid faces frequent strain and the cost of electricity continues to climb. Nuclear energy, once a significant part of California’s energy mix, has been sidelined in recent years, with the Diablo Canyon plant set for eventual closure until a recent pause in that process.
The Paks 2 project was previously stalled under Biden-era sanctions tied to Russia’s state nuclear sector. The policy reversal under the Trump administration has allowed the project to resume, highlighting a shift toward more flexible energy diplomacy. While some European Union leaders continue to advocate for broader restrictions, others—such as France and Hungary—have continued engaging with Rosatom on nuclear development.
France’s Framatome is actively participating in the Paks 2 build-out and has even expanded its role after German policy shifts sidelined Siemens from involvement.
Hungary’s decision raises questions about whether nuclear energy might deserve renewed consideration in California as part of a clean, dependable power strategy—especially given the state’s high energy costs and limited grid capacity.
