Tennessee has secured a major federal investment to advance next-generation nuclear energy. Governor Bill Lee announced Tuesday that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been awarded a $400 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to support development of the nation’s first small modular reactor at the Clinch River Site.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone for America’s energy dominance and underscores Tennessee’s position as a leader in clean, reliable nuclear energy to power the future,” Governor Lee said, thanking the federal government and TVA for their partnership. The Clinch River location is one of the nation’s only federally approved but still-undeveloped nuclear sites.

State leaders have backed the project for several years. In 2025, Governor Lee and the Tenn

See Full Page