Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has argued that the United States must be willing to “innovate” its foreign adversaries in the nuclear field.
Appearing on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Gates said he believes Americans should value the United States being a leader in nuclear energy. ”
His interview followed news that Microsoft was pursuing construction of a new nuclear power plant in Wyoming.
CBS’s Margaret Brennan pressed Gates on whether nuclear power plants would rely on Russian uranium. Gates said Congress recently passed a bill that would direct funding to sources other than Moscow and that the company would have suppliers in Britain and South Africa and a uranium mine in the United States.
The billionaire argued that Americans should want nuclear power produced in the U.S. because it is a “huge economic job creator” and that materials used in reactors should be closely monitored and not “supplied” to foreign military activities.
“So American leadership in this area has many strategic advantages,” he said. That is, the amount of jobs needed to build and operate factories over the next five years.
Brennan asked Gates if he was worried about what would happen to his energy sources and the country’s goals if former President Trump were re-elected and repealed inflation reduction laws that expanded support for nuclear power.
Gates has been working with both Democrats and Republicans on the issue and said the bipartisan support is “impressive.”
He said Republicans support adding jobs to the country and not outsourcing energy for security reasons. Democrats value clean energy sources away from fossil fuels.
Gates noted that many nuclear energy plans are focused on red states such as West Virginia, Wyoming and Texas.
“The more that happens, the more bipartisan support you’ll see,” he said.
He went on to point out that depending on which party controls Congress and the White House, he may have to “re-argue” why nuclear energy could be beneficial to the United States, but he believes in many things no matter how the election turns out. Energy-related provisions passed by Democrats in recent years “will probably survive.”
