TVA Takes Major Step Towards Nation’s First Small Modular Reactor

September 14, 2025

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted a construction permit application from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to build one of the nation’s first small modular reactors (SMRs). This marks a significant milestone for TVA, which aims to deploy GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design at its Clinch River site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Key Takeaways

TVA is the first U.S. utility to submit a construction permit application for an SMR.
The BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt-electric advanced light-water reactor design.
TVA has already secured the nation’s first early site permit for an SMR.
Preliminary site preparation could begin as early as next year.

A Path for Future SMR Deployment

TVA’s application submission in late May is a crucial step towards bringing the nation’s first utility-led SMR online. TVA President and CEO Don Moul stated that this move will "create a path for other utilities to deploy the reactor," enhancing energy security and reliable electricity. The utility has already obtained the country’s first and only early site permit for an SMR, having cleared the environmental review process with support from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The BWRX-300 Technology

The BWRX-300 is the sole boiling water SMR design currently under development in the United States. It is a smaller, simplified version of GE Vernova Hitachi’s licensed Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor, designed to leverage established supply chains for accelerated deployment. TVA joined a global collaboration with Ontario Power Generation in 2023 to expedite the development of this SMR technology for both the U.S. and Canada. Four BWRX-300 reactors are already cleared for construction in Clarington, Ontario, with commercial operation anticipated by the end of 2029.

Regulatory Review and Future Outlook

The next phase involves a comprehensive safety review by the NRC before construction can be approved. TVA anticipates that preliminary site preparation work at the Clinch River site could commence as early as next year, while the NRC conducts its review. The U.S. Department of Energy is committed to advancing commercial nuclear power and supporting the deployment of next-generation nuclear systems like SMRs to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy.

Some critics have raised concerns about potential hazards due to political pressure to expedite the review process, but TVA views this as a significant step toward final approval. The utility estimates that the SMR could be operational by late 2032.