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

September 14, 2025

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has achieved a significant milestone as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted its construction permit application for a small modular reactor (SMR). This move positions TVA as the first utility in the United States to seek approval for building this advanced nuclear technology 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 application is for GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design.
The Clinch River site has already secured the nation’s first early site permit for an SMR.
This development could pave the way for other utilities to deploy similar SMR technology.

Paving the Way for SMR Deployment

TVA submitted its application to the NRC in late May. The utility had previously secured the nation’s first and only early site permit for an SMR, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, clearing the environmental review process. The next crucial step involves a full safety review of the reactor design before construction can be authorized.

"This is an exciting step to bringing the nation’s first utility-led SMR online," stated TVA President and CEO Don Moul. "As the first utility in the United States to have a construction permit application under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the BWRX-300 reactor, this will create a path for other utilities to deploy the reactor — ensuring energy security and reliable electricity for all."

The BWRX-300 Technology

The BWRX-300 is the only boiling water SMR design currently under development in the United States. This 300-megawatt-electric advanced light water system is a more compact and simplified version of GE Vernova Hitachi’s licensed Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor. It is designed to leverage established supply chains, potentially accelerating its deployment.

In 2023, TVA joined a global collaboration with Ontario Power Generation to expedite the technology development of the SMR for use in both the United States and Canada. Four BWRX-300 reactors have already been cleared for construction in Clarington, Ontario, with commercial operation anticipated by the end of 2029.

Future Outlook

TVA anticipates that preliminary site preparation work could commence as early as next year, while the NRC conducts its review of the construction permit application. The U.S. Department of Energy is committed to advancing commercial nuclear power in the United States, aiming to enable the deployment and export of next-generation nuclear power systems like SMRs to provide more affordable, reliable, and secure energy.