The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) could get approval soon for a small modular reactor (SMR).
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is moving the agency’s construction permit into its next phase, and if approved, would result in the installation of the nation’s first small modular reactor at TVA’s Clinch River site, just outside of Oak Ridge.
Illustration Courtesy Tennessee Valley Authority
A small modular reactor is a smaller than normal nuclear plant and TVA says these SMRs can improve safety, efficiency, and leave a smaller carbon footprint than traditional nuclear facilities.
The permit was submitted in May, with TVA anticipating at least 2 or more years to get the permit and permission to move forward; however, three days after submission, President Trump issued an executive order demanding nuclear project permits to be approved in 18 months or less. That means TVA could get its official permit by December 2026.
In addition to agencies like TVA, big tech companies are also investing heavily in SMRs as a source for energy to power AI processes, despite some critics saying pressure from the Trump administration to expedite construction could lead to potential hazards.
For now the application has not yet been fully approved, but officials say it’s a big step toward final approval by the NRC.
