Feb 28, 2025
U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, visited the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and TVA’s Clinch River site on Friday. Joined by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty and U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, Secretary Wright highlighted the Department of Energy’s commitment to an American-made energy future.
“We’re here to launch the American nuclear renaissance right here in eastern Tennessee,” said Secretary Wright. “On this location you will see reactors being built and the first small modular reactors (SMR) in the United States.”
By expanding nuclear power, Secretary Wright hopes the nuclear renaissance will be spurred by prioritizing technology and expanding energy production in the U.S. TVA is at the forefront of this energy infrastructure discussion, evaluating advanced nuclear technology that can fulfill this innovative mission.
While TVA’s Board has not yet voted to approve an SMR at the nuclear site, TVA’s structured planning process carefully advances the Clinch River Project in phases at which the TVA Board will evaluate and consider approving any next steps.
“Tennessee is the state for new nuclear,” said Representative Fleischmann. “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. This is going to be the first of several to come and will power America’s dominance, not only in nuclear, but in all energy going forward.”
The Clinch River property consists of approximately 1,200 acres of land located on the northern bank of the Clinch River arm of the Watts Bar Reservoir in Oak Ridge, Roane County, Tennessee. The addition of small modular reactors is part of an ongoing discussion regarding TVA’s future generation portfolio. Advanced Nuclear reactors offer clean energy technology that would play a key role in TVA’s continued mission of environmental stewardship while increasing capability for future energy demands and providing increased energy security for our nation.
“We’re ready to deploy operation warp speed so that we have small modular reactors right here in Tennessee, but more importantly to provide energy all across this great nation,” said Senator Hagerty. “As the Secretary said this is the precipice of a renaissance. What we hope to see is a transformation in terms of our ability to deliver power for the next generation of technologies that are going to come right out of America and certainly right out of here in Tennessee.”
Secretary Wright’s visit to East Tennessee is part of a nation-wide tour including national laboratories, supercomputing technology and facilities dedicated to nuclear strategy.