Knoxville, Tenn. – – September 29, 2026 -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a construction permit for Clinch River Unit 1, making the Tennessee Valley Authority the first U.S. utility cleared to build a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The permit, granted for TVA's Clinch River Nuclear Site near Oak Ridge, Tenn., marks only the second advanced reactor construction permit ever issued in the country.
NRC clears path for 300-megawatt reactor ahead of schedule
TVA said the NRC's evaluation process allowed the permit to be issued earlier than anticipated, a move officials framed as evidence of streamlined federal licensing for advanced nuclear technology. No construction start date has been announced.
"This construction permit is more than a regulatory achievement – it's foundational for America's nuclear future," said Mike Skaggs, TVA Interim President & CEO.
Clinch River permit sets repeatable licensing template for future SMR applicants
TVA and federal officials characterized the approval as a template that will lower barriers and shorten timelines for future BWRX-300 deployments nationwide. The Clinch River site sits adjacent to the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a proximity TVA leadership cited as central to the state's nuclear innovation ecosystem.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann and Tim Burchett all issued statements backing the project, with Burchett crediting federal encouragement for the NRC's updated review process and noting the permit will generate local jobs.
BWRX-300 design cuts construction complexity through factory-built modules
The BWRX-300 generates up to 300 megawatts, roughly one-third the output of a conventional nuclear unit, with major components manufactured off-site and shipped for assembly. TVA said the design's smaller land and water footprint and phased-capacity approach are intended to reduce build costs and timelines compared with traditional reactors.
TVA negotiates cost-sharing terms with industry partners before construction
TVA confirmed it is still negotiating with industry partners on cost allocation and financial accountability for the project's design and construction phases. "Our priority is ensuring the people of the Valley do not shoulder the costs of first-of-a-kind technology that benefits the nation and world," Skaggs said, adding that shared-responsibility partnerships are meant to support broader energy security and AI-driven power demand goals.