TVA was notified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that our Construction Permit Application (CPA) for an SMR at the Clinch River site has been accepted for review. The construction permit is essentially the blueprint for the plant’s design and safety systems, and the NRC must approve the plans before we can begin construction.
The NRC acceptance and review of TVA’s CPA is a significant step to de-risk the licensing aspect of a potential, future SMR deployment.
TVA is the first utility in the U.S. to have a CPA for an SMR accepted for review by the NRC. This will create a path for other utilities to deploy the same technology – ensuring energy security and reliable electricity to power AI technologies and American industry.
“This is an exciting step to bringing the nation’s first utility-led SMR online. 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,” TVA President and CEO Don Moul said.
“Thank you to all those within the Clinch River Project that supported this effort, especially our Licensing team and Engineering group that worked to deliver a quality application for NRC review,” said Bob Deacy, Senior VP Clinch River Project. “This is a significant step for TVA and for our nation in advancing small modular reactors.”
By advancing SMR deployment, TVA will support American jobs, grow a domestic nuclear supply chain, and position the U.S. as a global leader for advanced nuclear technologies.
TVA will continue to work with the NRC to support the estimated 17-month review timeline for this first-of-a-kind nuclear technology.
The TVA Board has not yet authorized the deployment of a small modular reactor at the Clinch River site. Any decisions about deployment will be subject to support, risk-sharing, required internal and external approvals, and completion of necessary environmental and permitting reviews.
