US picks TVA’s 300 MW SMR project for advancing nuclear energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $400 million grant to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to accelerate the deployment of the nation’s first Generation 3+ small modular reactor (SMR), the 300 MW BWRX-300, at TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear (CRN) site in East Tennessee. This grant is part of a broader DOE initiative to strengthen the domestic nuclear industry and promote SMRs, which promise faster construction times, smaller footprints, and easier integration into diverse energy systems. TVA is the first U.S. entity to have a construction permit application for the BWRX-300 accepted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, positioning the Clinch River project as a potential model for safe, efficient, and affordable SMR deployment that could enhance U.S. leadership in nuclear energy. The CRN site, spanning approximately 935 acres near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was chosen due to its suitability and prior use for nuclear projects. TVA is collaborating