Launching America’s Nuclear Renaissance

U.S. Energy Secretary Visits Clinch River Nuclear Site

On a clear Friday morning at TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear Site, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright underscored the Department of Energy’s commitment to a future powered by American innovation.

And the Clinch River nuclear project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is at the vanguard of that innovation.

Sharing his vision for nuclear power, Wright emphasized the prioritization of technology and the expansion of energy production in the United States.

“We’re here to launch the American nuclear renaissance, right here in eastern Tennessee,” Wright said during his visit to the 935-acre site in Roane County. “On this location you will see reactors being built and the first small modular reactors in the United States.”

The stop was part of his nationwide tour of national laboratories, supercomputing technology centers and facilities dedicated to nuclear strategy.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and TVA leaders Jeff Lyash, President and CEO, and Don Moul, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, joined him in touring the site.

“Tennessee is the state for new nuclear,” Fleischmann said. “We’ve got a great existing nuclear fleet, we’ve got the Tennessee Valley Authority. But right here at Clinch River, this is going to be the first-of-its-kind small modular reactor right here in east Tennessee.”

Jeff Lyash, TVA President and CEO, chats with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright during a visit to the Clinch River Nuclear Site.

Hub for Innovation

Decades of strategic planning and foresight helped shape Oak Ridge’s identity as a hub for nuclear research and innovation.

The city continues to attract top talent through Oak Ridge National Laboratory and companies like Orano USA, which recently announced plans to build a multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility near the Clinch River nuclear site. It’s the single-largest capital investment by a private company in Tennessee’s history, according to state leaders.

“Oak Ridge was stood up as a major part of the Manhattan Project and has really had a history of all things nuclear,” Derrick Collins, TVA Economic Development consultant, said. “Coming out of the ground as a nuclear community throughout decades paved the way for economic development opportunities."

While large-scale energy projects like small modular reactors support TVA’s energy strategy, they can also help usher in new investment opportunities in Oak Ridge and beyond.

An economic impact report from the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council shows the advanced energy industry employs more than 420,000 people across Tennessee’s 95 counties, with over 22,000 businesses contributing nearly $56 billion to the state’s gross domestic product.

“Energy is ever present in our life, and Tennessee leads the nation in energy innovation,” said Cortney Piper, executive director at the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council.

“Our state is a hub for energy innovation. Anything that makes energy cleaner, safer, more secure, more efficient will lead to business growth and economic opportunities.”

A rendering of a small modular reactor at the Clinch River Nuclear Site. 

Building the Future

TVA’s Board of Directors has already authorized $350 million for the enterprise’s New Nuclear program, which includes exploration of small modular reactors at Clinch River.

While TVA’s Board has not yet voted to approve a small modular reactor at the nuclear site, TVA’s structured planning process carefully advances the Clinch River Nuclear Project in phases at which the TVA Board will evaluate and consider approving any next steps.

The site holds the nation’s first early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for small modular reactors.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has positioned the state to be a leader in nuclear innovation – creating the Nuclear Energy Fund that has provided more than $60 million in funding for the advancement of nuclear technologies.

Earlier this year, TVA also led a coalition of partners in applying for $800 million from the Department of Energy to help accelerate construction of a small modular reactor at Clinch River.

In his State of the State, Gov. Lee proposed $50 million to demonstrate the state’s commitment to TVA’s project, stating, “now is the time to develop the Clinch River Site and build the nation’s first small modular reactor on Tennessee soil.”

During the secretary’s visit, Bob Deacy, senior vice president of the Clinch River Project, stressed the importance of funding from the federal government.

“We submitted a strong application including other leading industry partners for the Department of Energy small modular reactor grant. Our Clinch River site is ready, and this grant is needed to move the project forward,” Deacy said. “First-of-a-kind costs are a major challenge for deploying new technology. We need support to advance this technology for the entire nation without putting early deployment costs solely on our customers."

TVA’s work to build a path from this first-of-its-kind technology to commercial cost effectiveness, at scale, will ultimately benefit local power companies and other stakeholders.

The Department of Energy funding would also help establish a domestic supply chain and, through TVA’s work with partners, support future deployments of advanced nuclear units across the nation.

"We’re a government agency,” Moul said. “We don’t have shareholders, we have stakeholders. We put our dollars back into the equipment or we give it back to our customers. And we can share what we learn very freely.”

East Tennessee’s status as a nuclear technology hub is possible through partnerships among TVA, the Department of Energy, state and local economic development agencies, innovative companies and elected officials. Through innovative projects like Clinch River, TVA is building an American-made energy future that advances reliability, affordability, safety, energy independence and economic development.

“Energy infrastructure projects like the small modular reactor at Clinch River show Tennessee’s role as a leader in advanced energy, not only within the Tennessee Valley but the country and the world,” Piper said.

Photo Gallery

Bob Deacy, senior vice president of the Clinch River Project, talks to legislators, TVA leaders, east Tennessee nuclear leaders and other guests at the site.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, Wright and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann tour the Clinch River Nuclear Site. 

The 935-acre Clinch River Nuclear Site was a stop for Wright on his nationwide tour of national laboratories, supercomputing technology centers and facilities dedicated to nuclear strategy.

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: At the Clinch River Nuclear Site tour, from left, Don Moul, TVA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner, Fleischmann, Wright and Deacy.