NRC issues first U.S. construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor

KNOXVILLE, TN (September 29, 2026) – GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) today welcomed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) issuance of a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor at its Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.The permit is the first issued in the United States for a BWRX-300 and represents a significant milestone for TVA, GVH and the U.S. nuclear industry as the country advances toward a new generation of nuclear power deployment.