The University of South Carolina and Westinghouse Electric Company have signed an agreement to jointly create a workforce development program. This program is designed to support the deployment of Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors.
The partnership was announced at the Third Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit. The Palmetto Nuclear Coalition hosted this event in Columbia on September 28 and 29.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued the first construction permit for a commercial small modular reactor (SMR) in the United States. The decision, which the NRC completed in 14 months, four months ahead of schedule, paves the way for the nation's first commercial SMR. NRC Chairman Ho Nieh stated that the Clinch River decision demonstrates the NRC's ability to make rigorous safety decisions that advance major American nuclear projects.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a government-owned power company, is the first utility in the United States permitted to construct the BWRX-300 SMR. While no construction date has been announced, TVA is negotiating with industry partners to ensure responsible cost sharing and financial accountability during design and construction. Mike Skaggs, TVA Interim President and CEO, emphasized that the permit is foundational for America's nuclear future. Matt Rasmussen, TVA's Chief Nuclear Officer, highlighted the NRC's engagement as essential for supporting America's energy leadership and building the foundation for advanced nuclear.
TVA noted that the Clinch River permit establishes a clear and repeatable licensing pathway for future BWRX-300 SMR applicants, which is expected to improve predictability, lower barriers, and accelerate deployment timelines nationwide. Skaggs added that a priority is to ensure that the people of the Valley do not bear the costs of first-of-a-kind technology that benefits the nation and the world. Strategic partnerships are seen as crucial for shared responsibility, value, and progress in deploying advanced nuclear infrastructure to meet energy security and AI dominance goals.
Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova Power Segment, called this a milestone for TVA and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and an important moment for new nuclear in the United States. He acknowledged TVA's leadership and the collaborative efforts of the NRC and the Department of Energy. Jason Cooper, CEO of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, stressed that fleet deployment is essential for scaling nuclear energy in the United States. He explained that a standard design and a predictable regulatory environment allow for the application of common technology, licensing experience, supply chain capabilities, and lessons learned across projects. Cooper believes Clinch River brings the fleet model closer to reality.
The NRC formally began its review in July 2025, including a safety evaluation completed in June that confirmed TVA's construction permit application met all regulatory requirements. A public hearing was held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in August. TVA submitted its application for Clinch River in May 2025, making it the first utility in the USA to apply for a construction permit for GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 technology.
SMRs are characterized by their smaller, modular design compared to the currently operating commercial nuclear fleet in the USA. Their compact size and modularity are expected to offer safety enhancements, quicker construction, easier operation, and better integration into landscapes. TVA already holds an early site permit for SMRs at the Clinch River site, confirming its suitability for a nuclear power plant based on site safety, environmental impact, and emergency planning. TVA has also submitted an Environmental Report for the project to the NRC.
The BWRX-300 design is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR featuring passive safety systems. It leverages the design and licensing basis of the ESBWR boiling water reactor developed by GEH. The first BWRX-300 unit is currently under construction in Canada, part of a plan for four SMRs at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site. In September 2026, Blue Energy submitted the first part of its construction permit application to the NRC for a BWRX-300 planned for its gas-plus-nuclear project in Texas. Projects for fleet deployment of BWRX-300 units are also advancing in Poland and the UK.
Saskatchewan has released "Delivering Energy Security Through Nuclear Power," a plan outlining the province's strategy for establishing a nuclear power program. This document builds upon the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, published in October 2025. The plan prioritizes four key areas for nuclear development: increasing electricity capacity for long-term growth, incorporating large nuclear reactors into the electricity supply, continuing nuclear development in Estevan, and expanding existing nuclear expertise.
Utility SaskPower has been evaluating large reactor technologies and will now proceed with planning for two large nuclear reactors in northwest Saskatchewan. The initial goal is to generate over 2,000 MW, with the first reactor projected to be operational by 2042. SaskPower will also assess potential locations in the Estevan area, engaging with local communities and Indigenous populations, based on previous site assessment work. The Rafferty site near Estevan has been selected for further study regarding small modular reactor (SMR) deployment, with a target of delivering at least 600 MW of power from SMRs in the region.
In the near term, from 2026 to 2027, Saskatchewan plans to finalize its selection of large nuclear technology and establish planning directives for the two large reactors in the northwest. Concurrently, planning and siting efforts in the Estevan region will advance. Between 2027 and 2030, the province will focus on detailed siting, community engagement, and development readiness. This phase will involve identifying suitable locations in northwest Saskatchewan for licensing, construction, and operation of at least two large reactors. For southeast Saskatchewan, the province will determine the commercial, financial, and market conditions necessary to support a final investment decision for SMRs. Beyond 2030, the focus will shift to preparing for licensing, securing financing, and making final project decisions.
SaskPower previously selected GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in the province by the mid-2030s. In 2024, two potential SMR sites were identified, both located in the Estevan area. Additionally, SaskPower signed a memorandum of understanding with Cameco and Westinghouse to explore technical and commercial avenues for deploying Westinghouse's reactor technology, including the AP1000 reactor and AP300 SMR, for long-term electricity supply planning. Saskatchewan, which possesses significant uranium resources but currently has no operational nuclear power reactors, is collaborating with Ontario, New Brunswick, and Alberta on SMR deployment under a joint strategic plan initiated in 2022.