Advanced nuclear reactor company X-energy began trading Friday as the AI boom and electrification broadly spark a flurry of interest in the nuclear industry. The stock opened at $30.11, after upsizing its initial offering, pricing at $23 per share — ahead of the initial range of $16 - $19 per share. The company raised more than $1 billion, making it the largest nuclear public offering on record. Shares ended the day 27% higher at $29.20. The company's xe-100 reactor is 80 megawatts, and can be bundled together with additional reactors to scale up to 960 megawatts. The xe-100's model is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor . In addition to generating electricity, its high temperatures mean it can be used in hard-to-decarbonize industrial applications such as chemical production.  All of the nuclear reactors currently in operation in the U.S. are light water reactors.…