The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued the first-ever U.S. construction permit for a GE Vernova Hitachi (GVH) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The permit authorizes the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to build a unit at its Clinch River site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The approval was issued on September 29, 2026. It is the second construction permit issued for any commercial advanced reactor in the country.
The permit allows TVA to proceed with construction of the 300-megawatt reactor. TVA has not announced a construction start date.
The NRC’s decision followed an extensive review of TVA’s application, submitted in April 2025. The milestone establishes a clearer licensing path for future SMR deployments and adds to regulatory momentum for the BWRX-300, which is also under construction in Canada.