New York, Jan 17, 2026, 09:15 EST — Market closed.
NuScale Power Corp shares ended Friday 6.8% higher, closing at $20.19. The stock fluctuated between $18.86 and $20.55, with trading volume exceeding 34 million shares.
The decision comes as Washington aims to tackle looming power shortages linked to data centers—an issue now touching everything remotely connected to new energy sources. NuScale is focused on small modular reactors, or SMRs, a compact nuclear design promoted as a more adaptable alternative to conventional plants.
The White House has called on PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. electric grid operator, to launch an “emergency” power auction aimed at preventing rolling blackouts amid surging data-center demand outpacing new plant construction. The move would steer tech firms toward long-term contracts that help fund new capacity. Reuters
PJM unveiled a plan targeting new large power users, requiring them to either generate their own electricity or face curtailment — meaning they’d have to reduce usage during tight grid conditions. The strategy, dubbed “connect and manage,” aims to juggle data center growth with grid stability and consumer costs, according to PJM CEO David Mills. Reuters
Nuclear energy remained front and center. On Friday, the U.S. and Slovakia inked a civil nuclear power deal focused on cutting Slovakia’s dependence on Russian-designed reactors. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described it as a “shared commitment” to bolstering European energy security. Reuters
Policy shifts rattled other energy stocks on Friday. GE Vernova surged roughly 6%, but Constellation Energy and Vistra dropped steeply. Investors are debating which companies stand to gain if new plants go up—and who might take a hit if prices are capped or demand changes.
NuScale holders face a key date next week. The company announced that NuScale LLC unitholders may swap Class B units and their corresponding Class B stock for Class A shares—the ones that trade publicly. The next exchange notice is set to be mailed on Jan. 20. This step could gradually increase the number of publicly floated shares.
The tape remains fragile. The PJM auction push is tangled in political and regulatory battles, and grid rule changes often get stuck; any delay or rewrite could dampen the “new generation” bids that have been driving gains in parts of the complex.
The calendar adds to the near-term uncertainty. U.S. markets shut Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and open again Tuesday, so traders will be watching for follow-through in power and nuclear-linked stocks once liquidity picks up.
NuScale is set to appear publicly next at TD Securities’ Technology Winter Summit on Jan. 26, according to its events page. The management slot there could spark new questions around financing and project timelines.
