The Tennessee Valley Authority is leading the charge on an application for $800 million in grant funding from the United States Department of Energy, with the goal of constructing the nation’s first Small Modular Reactor.
The TVA has formed a coalition of partners including the State of Tennessee, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Indiana Michigan Power, North American Forgemasters and numerous other utilities and advanced nuclear project developers to pursue the grant. Congress appropriated grant funding in 2024 to spur the first Gen III+ SMR deployments in the U.S. with the hope of strengthening America’s domestic nuclear industry.
TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash explained what a Small Modular Reactor is and how it could be utilized in the Valley, bringing nuclear energy to the forefront.
He says such a construction would be an innovative boon for their service region, helping to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable and clean power.
Lyash says energy security is vital to the nation as whole.
If awarded, Lyash said the funding will accelerate construction of an SMR at TVA’s Clinch River Project, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee by two years – with commercial operations planned for 2033.
TVA is following a structured planning process that carefully advances the Clinch River Project in phases at which the TVA Board will evaluate and consider approving any next steps. TVA’s Board has not voted to approve an SMR at the nuclear site. Should the Board approve an SMR, the availability of DOE funding would help accelerate the early activities of the project.