The Tennessee Valley Authority asked federal regulators Tuesday to approve its plans to build an advanced nuclear reactor, making it the first utility to do so.
Although the Clinch River small modular reactor (SMR) project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is still officially exploratory, TVA’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission permit application pushes it closer to reality. SMRs are designed to be factory assembled. They have not yet been deployed in North America.
“Submitting the construction permit [application] is a tremendous step forward for American energy innovation and for getting more carbon-free resources online in the Tennessee Valley when industry is demanding more energy and more carbon-free sources of energy,” said Cortney Piper, executive director of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council.
SMRs are often hailed as the future of nuclear power, promising enhanced passive safety features, cost reductions by developing an assembly line process, and greater flexibility for siting. Silicon Valley is investing in the technology due to its low emissions and potential to power rapidly growing data centers, while lawmakers hope it will provide the 24/7 reliability of nuclear power with a lower price tag.
