_Regulation · Permit_

# NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review)

Canonical ID: `22db926f-8349-4845-9953-e297e7e4c377`

- **Jurisdiction:** [Oak Ridge](/locations/united-states/tennessee/roane-county-tennessee/oak-ridge-tennessee.md) (id: `bc895018-a2f1-414c-bddb-6e1d12281629`)
- **Kind:** `permit`
- **Status (derived):** in_effect
- **Effective:** 2026-09-29

On Sep 29 2026 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority for Clinch River Unit 1, a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactor (~300 MW) at TVA's Clinch River Nuclear Site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NRC says this is the nation's first commercial small modular reactor construction permit of this kind and that the safety-focused review finished in 14 months, ahead of schedule (second advanced reactor construction permit in the U.S. after TerraPower). TVA previously held an early site permit for the site (2019). A separate NRC operating license is still required before fuel load and operations; no construction start date has been announced. Energy-for-AI / large-load relevance: TVA and federal officials framed advanced nuclear as supporting regional demand and national energy/AI infrastructure goals.

## Sources (4)

1. https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/news-releases/2026/26-079 · 2026-09-29
2. https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/who-were-working-with/applicant-projects/clinch-river.html · 2026-09-29
3. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tva-first-us-utility-to-receive-construction-permit-for-bwrx-300-advanced-nuclear-reactor-302893324.html · 2026-09-29
4. https://x.com/NRCgov/status/2104974977984287190 · 2026-09-29

## Status history

- **active** · 2026-09-29 · editor:digest-1pm-sep29-2026
    - NRC issued construction permit for TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 on Sep 29 2026. Construction permit only; operating license still required.

## Common questions

### What does NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) cover?

On Sep 29 2026 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority for Clinch River Unit 1, a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactor (~300 MW) at TVA's Clinch River Nuclear Site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NRC says this is the nation's first commercial small modular reactor construction permit of this kind and that the safety-focused review finished in 14 months, ahead of schedule (second advanced reactor construction permit in the U.S. after TerraPower). TVA previously held an early site permit for the site (2019). A separate NRC operating license is still required before fuel load and operations; no construction start date has been announced. Energy-for-AI / large-load relevance: TVA and federal officials framed advanced nuclear as supporting regional demand and national energy/AI infrastructure goals.

### Where does NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) apply?

NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) is recorded as a permitting requirement applying in Oak Ridge on the DEPLOY registry.

### When did NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) take effect?

NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) is recorded as effective September 29, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry.

### Is NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) still in effect?

NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) is currently in effect and applies to covered operators in the named jurisdiction.

### What types of robots does NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) apply to?

NRC issues TVA Clinch River Unit 1 BWRX-300 construction permit (first U.S. commercial SMR CP for design; 14-month review) is recorded as cross-cutting on the DEPLOY registry, meaning it does not single out one robot form factor. Operators of any covered robot type in Oak Ridge should review the underlying primary sources for applicability.


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