The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a construction permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority to build a small modular reactor at Clinch River in Roane County, Tennessee, marking the nation's first commercial small modular reactor project to reach this stage.
The NRC completed its review in 14 months, ahead of schedule. The agency formally began reviewing the project in July 2025 and finished its licensing decision this month, according to NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh.
The NRC staff completed a comprehensive safety evaluation in June 2026 and found that TVA's application met all regulatory requirements. The agency also held a public hearing in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in August as part of its modernized mandatory hearing process.
TVA plans to build a 300-megawatt GE Vernova Hitachi boiling-water reactor to help meet growing regional power demand in Tennessee. Before loading fuel and beginning operations, TVA will need a separate operating license from the NRC.
TVA previously received an early site permit for the Clinch River location in 2019. The approval represents the NRC's second major reactor approval this year, according to the agency.