• Landmark approval accelerates BWRX-300 deployment in America and highlights expanding regulatory support across North America

KNOXVILLE, TN (September 29, 2026) – GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) today celebrated the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) approval of a construction permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to build a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

This marks the first construction authorization in the United States for the BWRX-300 design, signifying a pivotal advancement for TVA, GVH, and the broader U.S. nuclear energy sector as the nation moves toward deploying next-generation nuclear technology.

“This achievement is a major step forward for TVA and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and a defining moment for advanced nuclear development in the U.S.,” said Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova Power Segment. “TVA’s leadership in pioneering new nuclear projects—supported by strong collaboration with the NRC and the Department of Energy—exemplifies the progress possible under federal initiatives designed to fast-track advanced reactor deployment. We’re proud to partner in bringing the nation’s first BWRX-300 to life.”

The NRC’s decision comes after a thorough evaluation of TVA’s application and reflects years of coordinated planning between TVA, GVH, and regulatory authorities. The process underscores how early engagement, proven reactor design maturity, and industry experience can streamline licensing for next-generation nuclear facilities.

This milestone also complements ongoing regulatory progress for the BWRX-300 throughout North America. In April 2025, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) granted Ontario Power Generation (OPG) a Construction License for the first BWRX-300 at the Darlington New Nuclear site, where active construction is now underway. OPG filed its Operating License application in March 2026, which remains under CNSC review. Additionally, in September 2026, Blue Energy submitted the initial phase of its construction permit request to the NRC for a BWRX-300 unit planned as part of a hybrid gas-and-nuclear project in Texas.

Collectively, these initiatives are building a robust foundation of regulatory and operational knowledge that will support future BWRX-300 installations across the continent.

“Scaling nuclear energy in the U.S. depends on fleet-wide deployment,” said Jason Cooper, CEO of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “A standardized reactor design, paired with a consistent and efficient regulatory framework, enables us to transfer technology, licensing insights, supply chain efficiencies, and operational lessons from one project to the next. The Clinch River project brings us closer to realizing that scalable, repeatable model.”

TVA filed its construction permit application for the Clinch River site in April 2025. The project leverages TVA’s previously approved Early Site Permit and is situated within the Oak Ridge nuclear innovation hub, adjacent to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt small modular reactor engineered to minimize construction challenges through a simplified design and by drawing on over half a century of boiling water reactor operational expertise.

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