The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the first construction permit in the United States for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor. The permit was granted to the Tennessee Valley Authority for placement at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This milestone marks a significant advancement for TVA, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and the broader U.S. nuclear industry.

Eric Gray, CEO of the GE Vernova Power Segment, emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the NRC and Department of Energy. The BWRX-300 is a 300-MW reactor designed to simplify construction using a simplified configuration and decades of boiling water reactor experience. This decision follows an extensive review of TVA's application.

The project builds on TVA's existing Early Site Permit within the Oak Ridge nuclear ecosystem, near the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This development adds to growing regulatory momentum for the BWRX-300 design across North America, following prior licensing milestones in Canada and permit applications in Texas.