Major philanthropic gift establishes Nuclear Scaling Initiative, catalyzing effort to increase nuclear energy deployment 10x by the 2030s

NEW YORK – A major new gift from Joe Gebbia and Isabelle Boemeke to Clean Air Task Force (CATF), the EFI Foundation (EFIF), and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) will establish and empower the Nuclear Scaling Initiative (NSI) — a collaborative effort to catalyze and build a new nuclear energy ecosystem to scale to 50 or more gigawatts of clean, safe, and secure nuclear power per year by the 2030s, a tenfold increase of the current deployment rate. 

The gift awards $5 million to the NSI partnership to produce and socialize first-of-their-kind analyses and intellectual products among relevant governments, stakeholders, and opinion leaders aimed at transforming the nuclear energy ecosystem. It also establishes a second $5 million matching challenge to encourage additional philanthropic support from individual and institutional donors.  

“Nuclear electricity is one of the safest forms of energy on the planet. Funding NSI kickstarts the first major philanthropic effort to develop more of this consistent carbon-free energy,” stated Joe Gebbia. 

“Nuclear electricity is essential to address climate change, end energy inequality, and boost energy security,” said Isabelle Boemeke. “It’s also been an overlooked technology and in need of catalytic philanthropic support to realize its full potential. We’re proud to do our part in supporting these trusted partners in their work to scale nuclear electricity around the world, and we challenge our peers in the philanthropic community to join us in this effort.” 

The gift and matching challenge come as nuclear energy gains significant momentum as a key component of the clean energy transition. That momentum reached an inflection point in 2023, when more than 25 countries launched the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy at COP28. This announcement secured nuclear energy’s important role in a low-carbon future and opened a discussion around how it can be rapidly, effectively, and responsibly scaled.  

“Nuclear energy has moved from a marginal role in the energy and climate conversation to an increasingly central one,” said Armond Cohen, Executive Director at Clean Air Task Force. “But there is not yet any coherent or comprehensive roadmap to get nuclear energy to the scale and pace needed to address climate change. The Nuclear Scaling Initiative will fill that gap through new research, multi-sector coalition- and capacity-building, policy advocacy, and commercial facilitation. We’re humbled by the generous catalytic support of Joe Gebbia and Isabelle Boemeke and look forward to working with them and other philanthropic partners on growing the network of do-ers and funders for this important mission.” 

“This very generous gift from Joe and Isabelle will take us closer to a decarbonized future where communities worldwide are powered by clean, affordable, secure and reliable electricity,” said Ernest J. Moniz, President and CEO of EFI Foundation and Co-Chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. “The team we have built across NTI, EFIF, and CATF combines the expertise, experience, global perspective, and rigorous approach necessary to scale nuclear energy at a groundbreaking pace. In addition, our strong commitment to nuclear security and nonproliferation is embedded in NSI’s approach.”  

The Nuclear Scaling Initiative will: 

• Facilitate the formation of a large, organized, pooled demand “orderbook” for nuclear energy plants, with an initial focus on the U.S. and Central and Eastern Europe 

• Advocate for the harmonization of regulatory and other policies across international borders to facilitate a truly global industry 

• Promote financial risk sharing among private parties and governments to reduce first-mover disadvantages 

• Help to develop a roadmap to expand and sustain global workforces to meet increased demand 

• Encourage the embedding of non-proliferation and security as essential criteria for a nuclear energy scale-up 

In 2023, CATF, EFIF, and NTI teamed up to develop and release the Global Playbook for Nuclear Energy Development in Embarking Countries, outlining pathways for the responsible, sustainable, and effective development of new nuclear energy projects at 10x of the current pace. The report has been influential in driving progress around nuclear energy and has helped lay the foundation for the Nuclear Scaling Initiative’s work.  

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Press Contact

Troy Shaheen, Communications Director, Clean Air Task Force, [email protected], +1 845-750-1189 

About Joe Gebbia 

Joe Gebbia is the co-founder of Airbnb and Samara. An entrepreneur from an early age, he is obsessed with igniting new ideas. Most people don’t know that Joe began his life as an artist, eventually double majoring in graphic design and industrial design. While studying at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Gebbia complemented his creative pursuits with business coursework at Brown University and MIT. After moving to San Francisco from Providence, Rhode Island, Gebbia worked as a designer for Chronicle Books where he experienced first-hand how a design-led business works.  

Airbnb’s groundbreaking service began in his San Francisco living room in 2008. Today, Airbnb has spread to nearly 7 million listings in over 220 countries, changing how people trust each other. His latest venture, Samara, comparably cemented in economic empowerment, housing resources, and design, redefines the standards of factory-made homes. 

Gebbia has spoken globally about both entrepreneurship and design, and received numerous distinctions such as the Inc 30 under 30, and speaking at TED, Wired, and Fast Company. He loves to find opportunities to give back on the local and global level and has joined the Giving Pledge to commit more than half of his wealth to philanthropy. He contributes his time via other board seats at Airbnb and Tesla. 

About Isabelle Boemeke 

Isabelle Boemeke is the Founder and Executive Director of advocacy organization Save Clean Energy, which cultivates grassroots movements that protect existing clean energy resources. She is also the creator of the online persona, Isodope, where she uses her platform to spread awareness about the potential of nuclear energy to help solve the global climate and resource crises. Boemeke’s education and advocacy efforts led to a successful grassroots campaign to delay the closure of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California, she is a 2022 TIME Magazine Next Generation Leader, and has a TED Talk with over 2 million views, explaining why nuclear electricity is our best chance to replace fossil fuels. 

About Clean Air Task Force  

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world.  

About the EFI Foundation 

The EFI Foundation is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on issues relating to harnessing the power of technology and policy innovation to accelerate the clean energy transition. Under the leadership of Ernest J. Moniz, the 13th U.S. Secretary of Energy, the EFI Foundation builds on the legacy work of the Energy Futures Initiative, a nonprofit organization co-founded by former Secretary Moniz in 2017. 

About the Nuclear Threat Initiative 

The Nuclear Threat Initiative is a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats imperiling humanity.