Editor’s Note: This is an updated story that was originally published January 17.

A broad coalition of electric utilities, EPCs, technology providers and other companies have applied for federal funding that, if awarded, would accelerate the deployment of multiple small modular reactors (SMRs).

Last week we reported that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is applying for $800 million in funding that would help the federal utility speed up deployment of a BWRX-300 SMR at TVA’s Clinch River Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The funding is through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Program, launched in 2024. The award would move up the SMR’s commercial operation date by two years, from 2035 to 2033, TVA said.

The broad coalition of partners includes Bechtel, BWX Technologies (BWXT), Duke Energy, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), GE Hitachi (GEH), Indiana Michigan Power, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Sargent & Lundy, Scot Forge and North American Forgemasters, the State of Tennessee and other utilities and advanced nuclear project developers.

At this time, TVA’s board of directors has not voted to approve an SMR at the Clinch River site. Should the board approve an SMR, the availability of DOE funding would help accelerate the early activities of the project.

TVA is planning for the potential deployment of up to four SMRs at the Clinch River site. Multiple deployments would stimulate the supply chain for BWRX-300 reactors in the coming decades, TVA said.

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation reactor with passive safety systems that leverage the design and licensing basis of GEH’s ESBWR boiling water reactor.

The reactor leverages a unique combination of existing fuel that is currently used in operating reactors (and does not require HALEU), plant simplifications, proven components and a design based on already licensed reactor technology. 

American Electric Power announced Friday that its subsidiary, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), applied as a subrecipient under TVA’s application. The utility is eyeing two potential SMR sites for a BWRX-300: The Rockport Plant in Spencer County, Indiana, and the Joshua Falls property in Campbell County, Virginia, which is under AEP subsidiary Appalachian Power.

I&M is seeking $50 million to begin the early stages of SMR development at the Rockport Plant site. If awarded funds, I&M will conduct ESP activities, as well as a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, which is required for a potential future Construction Permit, at the site utilizing the GEH BWRX-300 technology.

Last year, Spencer County officials approved an ordinance supporting new generation at the Rockport Plant site, including the use of SMRs.

In November 2024, Appalachian Power announced that it was beginning exploration to see if the Joshua Falls site was suitable for an SMR. On Friday, Appalachian Power submitted a grant proposal requesting $35 million to offset the costs of the work necessary for the early site permit.

Duke Energy also issued its own announcement that it would pursue funding through the Generation III+ SMR Program. Duke has also has entered into an agreement with GE Hitachi to invest in activities to advance the standard design and licensing of the BWRX-300. This would allow Duke Energy to share insights and best practices with TVA and other partners as they adopt GE Hitachi’s SMR technology.

Utilities everywhere are projecting increased demand due to the proliferation of data centers, onshoring of manufacturing and economy-wide electrification. TVA and AEP territories are no exception.

According to TVA projections from August 2024, the region’s population is growing three times faster than the national average. To address the need for more electricity, TVA is investing nearly $16 billion through FY27 to build new generation and infrastructure and enhance the reliability of existing assets.