ROCKVILLE, MD — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a construction permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority to build a small modular nuclear reactor at its Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The decision clears the way for construction of what is expected to become the nation’s first commercial small modular reactor. The NRC completed its review in 14 months, about four months ahead of schedule.
TVA plans to build a 300-megawatt GE Vernova Hitachi boilingwater reactor at the site to help meet growing regional electricity demand. The project still must receive a separate NRC operating license before fuel can be loaded and the reactor can begin operating.
The NRC began reviewing TVA’s application in July 2025 and completed a safety evaluation in June 2026, finding the proposal met regulatory requirements. The agency also held a public hearing in Oak Ridge in August.
TVA previously received an early site permit for the Clinch River location in 2019. The construction permit is the NRC’s second major reactor approval this year.