TVA to Submit SMR Construction Permit Application

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) plans to submit a Construction Permit Application (CPA) for a GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River Nuclear Site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The submission, directed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), will begin with the Clinch River Nuclear Site Environmental Report this month, with the remaining components expected by June 2025. The CPA outlines the plant’s design and safety systems, requiring NRC approval before construction can start.

TVA has picked out the location for the first SMR at Clinch River

TVA clarified that its board has not yet approved the deployment of an SMR at the Clinch River site. The authority stated: “TVA’s submittal of the CPA is an important step to de-risk the licensing aspect of a potential, future SMR deployment. Any decisions about deployment will be subject to support, risk-sharing, required internal and external approvals, and completion of necessary environmental and permitting reviews.”

In 2019, the NRC granted TVA an early site permit for the Clinch River site, confirming its suitability for a nuclear power plant based on safety, environmental impact, and emergency planning considerations. This permit did not specify a technology. In 2022, TVA partnered with GE Hitachi to advance planning and preliminary licensing for a potential BWRX-300 deployment at the site.

This CPA marks the first for a BWRX-300. Other recent submissions include TerraPower’s CPA for a Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, filed in March 2024 and docketed by the NRC in May 2024, and Long Mott Energy’s CPA for an Xe-100 reactor in Calhoun County, Texas, submitted on March 31, 2025, with a docketing decision expected by late May 2025.

Earlier this year, a TVA-led group, including GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, applied for $800 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Generation III+ SMR program to support the Clinch River SMR project. TVA CEO Jeff Lyash stated: “The funding would accelerate construction of an SMR at Clinch River by two years, with commercial operation planned for 2033.” The project aims to provide clean, reliable energy to the region.

The Clinch River initiative reflects TVA’s commitment to exploring advanced nuclear technologies to meet future energy needs. By pursuing the BWRX-300, TVA aims to contribute to a sustainable energy mix while adhering to rigorous safety and environmental standards. The project’s progress depends on successful licensing, funding, and stakeholder support, positioning Clinch River as a potential leader in SMR deployment.