The U.S. Department of Energy on December 3, 2025, selected Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec Government Services to support early deployments of advanced light-water small modular reactors in the United States, with each recipient receiving up to $400 million in federal cost-shared funding. TVA plans to deploy a GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at the Clinch River Nuclear site in Tennessee, while Holtec plans to deploy two SMR-300 reactors at the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station site in Covert, Michigan. Both selections draw from a $900 million solicitation DOE issued in March 2025 to de-risk deployment of Generation III+ SMRs, with the remaining $100 million from that solicitation to be awarded later in 2025.
What it means
New nuclear generation is targeted for delivery in the early 2030s. TVA’s project includes plans to accelerate deployment of additional units with Indiana Michigan Power and Elementl, and draws on a domestic nuclear supply chain that includes Scot Forge, North American Forgemasters, BWX Technologies, and Aecon, alongside project partners Duke Energy, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the Electric Power Research Institute. Holtec’s project at the Palisades site positions the company across multiple roles — technology vendor, supply chain vendor, constructor, plant operator, and electricity merchant — with Hyundai Engineering and Construction serving as construction partner. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said advanced light-water SMRs will give the nation “reliable, round-the-clock power” to fuel manufacturing, support data centers and AI growth, and reinforce a stronger, more secure electric grid.
Key facts
- Total federal cost-shared funding: up to $800 million across both selections
- TVA allocation: up to $400 million; Holtec Government Services allocation: up to $400 million
- TVA reactor: GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 at Clinch River Nuclear site, Tennessee
- Holtec reactors: two SMR-300 units at Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, Covert, Michigan
- TVA domestic supply chain partners: Scot Forge, North American Forgemasters, BWX Technologies, Aecon
- Holtec construction partner: Hyundai Engineering and Construction
- New nuclear generation targeted for delivery in the early 2030s
- DOE’s original solicitation: $900 million issued March 2025; $100 million remaining to be awarded later in 2025
Source: U.S. Department of Energy news release (energy.gov)