The Tennessee Valley Authority announced on April 23 that it has reapplied for the $800 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Program.
“TVA is unleashing American energy with a strong coalition, including Bechtel, BWX Technologies, Duke Energy, Electric Power Research Institute, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Indiana Michigan Power - an AEP Company, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Sargent & Lundy, Scot Forge and North American Forgemasters, the State of Tennessee and advanced nuclear project developers,” it said.
“TVA and our partners are leading the way for new nuclear in America to power artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing. These are the industries that will create jobs and investment across the country,” said Don Moul, TVA President and CEO. “At TVA, we know nuclear power is key to our region’s – and nation’s – energy security. If awarded, this grant will help TVA and our coalition members build the nation’s first SMR and provide families and businesses with affordable and abundant energy.”
The original grant TVA applied for, in January, was created and appropriated by Congress in 2024.
In March, the U.S. Department of Energy updated the grant criteria and requested applicants reapply.
Moul noted that by reapplying and working with these collaborative entities, "TVA is supporting the nation’s energy independence by making a way to establish a domestic supply chain which will create American jobs and support future deployments of advanced nuclear units in the U.S. and beyond," TVA said.
“We are facing a historic moment that could decide our nation’s energy security for decades to come and the world is looking for American leadership,” said Moul. “This is not about building an SMR. We are working to develop a technology, a supply chain, a delivery model and an industry that will unleash American energy.”
“TVA is the nation’s SMR leader and is following a structured planning process that has the best path of deploying an SMR,” it said.
TVA has completed the Environmental Review for the Clinch River project and sent a notification of intent to submit a Construction Permit Application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. TVA’s goal is to submit the CPA to the NRC this summer.
Earlier this month, TVA submitted an application for a separate DOE grant seeking $8 million to support the NRC license review costs. Preliminary site preparation could begin as soon as 2026.
SMRs are a smaller version of the nuclear technology that powers many U.S. states today.
TVA is pursuing the BWRX-300 technology, with the potential benefit of being safer, more replicable, and more efficient. Their smaller footprint means they possibly can be built more quickly, are easier to operate and better fit into the landscape due to their compact size, TVA noted.
“Tennessee is well-positioned to lead America’s energy independence and ensure a brighter future for all with safe, reliable, clean nuclear energy,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “The time has come to build America’s first small modular reactor on Tennessee soil, and securing this partnership with the federal government will accelerate our nuclear ecosystem development and strengthen our workforce to create even more high-paying jobs for Tennesseans.”
