New Nuclear Reactor to come to East Tennessee

Courtesy: TVA

TENNESSEE — The Department of Energy has approved a major grant to build a nuclear reactor in East Tennessee.

It will be the first Generation 3 “Small Modular Reactor” in the U.S.

TVA will build it at the Clinch River site just outside of Knoxville.

The agency hopes the project will come online by the early 2030’s.

The federal government is pledging 400-million dollars to the project.

Energy Committee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann says there is no denying that America needs more power.

“As Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations, and Tennessee’s Appropriator in Congress, I have made it my mission to not only expand new nuclear nationwide but ensure that Tennessee leads our nation in developing and deploying cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will create America’s New Nuclear Future. There is no denying the reality that America needs more power. The only way that we will meet our future energy demands is through a robust ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy that puts nuclear power at the forefront.”

– Fleischmann said.

He says they only way we can meet the challenge is an “all-of-the-above” approach with nuclear power at the top.