Letter from Charles Oppenheimer

Harnessing fission marked a milestone in human history: we learned that science can unlock forces powerful enough either to destroy humanity—or to save it.

At Oppenheimer Energy, our mission is to prove that the peaceful use of fission for abundance and energy for all is both real and achievable. We aim to make the words “nuclear” and “Oppenheimer” synonymous with abundance and energy in the long arc of history.

Nuclear energy has proven itself to be safe, reliable, and cost-effective over the long term. Today, much of the misinformation about its safety has been overcome. Yet turning that acceptance into a real increase in nuclear deployment remains difficult. Too many recent efforts have failed or gone massively over budget.

We believe the root cause of these failures is not technical or economic, but rather misaligned incentives and a lack of effective collaboration. Before the Manhattan Project began, my grandfather J. Robert Oppenheimer told General Groves: “This thing will never get on the rails unless there is a place where people can talk to each other and work together.” That spirit of collaboration became the foundation for one of history’s most iconic successes, the Manhattan Project.

That was the right model for its time. Today, our task is to bring people together for a new challenge, not for wartime weapons, but for the pursuit of energy security and global prosperity.

We are nuclear project developers. Our role is to be the center of a project: the first mover, the catalyst for aligned incentives. We lead by going first, taking the initial risk when others are not yet willing.

We bring together utilities, investors, engineers, regulators, and communities to move nuclear projects from concept to reality. From investment and early siting to community engagement, financing structures, and construction partnerships, we are committed to keeping projects on track with excellence at every stage.

If you are looking for a partner to help realize a nuclear project, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can build the energy foundation for the future of nuclear energy.