MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Tennessee Valley Authority, the utility that provides power to Memphis Light, Gas and Water to keep the lights on in Memphis, just received $400 million from the federal government to develop a new nuclear reactor. It’s called an SMR - small modular reactor - and this will be the first one built in America.

Between population growth and the proliferation of new AI data centers, the demand for energy is increasing exponentially. To meet that demand, TVA is looking at developing a technology only used in two other places right now: China and Russia.

“It is a big deal, and that’s why we’re taking the time to make sure we’re doing it right,” TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks told Action News 5.

TVA plans to build the SMR at its Clinch River site in East Tennessee near Oak

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