"It’s only the second time that American regulators have approved a next-generation commercial reactor for construction. Big hurdles remain."
"The nation’s largest federally owned utility received permission on Tuesday to build a new type of small nuclear reactor in Tennessee, in the latest sign of growing momentum for U.S. nuclear power.
The Tennessee Valley Authority was granted a construction permit by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a small reactor at its Clinch River site, west of Knoxville. It’s only the second time that U.S. regulators have given approval to build a next-generation commercial reactor. The first was in March for a project in Wyoming backed by Bill Gates.
“This construction permit is more than a regulatory achievement — it’s foundational for America’s nuclear future,” said Mike Skaggs, the T.V.A.’s interim president, in a statement.
The T.V.A. is considering up to four new reactors at Clinch River that are designed to be much smaller than traditional nuclear power plants. The hope is these “small modular reactors” will be easier to build and finance, potentially avoiding the delays and cost overruns that have plagued U.S. nuclear projects in recent decades."
Brad Plumer reports for the New York Times September 29, 2026.
