US Awards $800 Million to TVA, Holtec to Spur Small Nuke Plants

The US awarded $800 million to two developers to build small reactors, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate deployment of the technology to meet soaring power needs.

Holtec and Tennessee Valley Authority each will receive $400 million to develop nuclear projects with so called Generation III+ reactors, smaller versions of the technology that’s widely used now in conventional fission plants.

The funding reflects US President Donald Trump’s goal of boosting the US nuclear industry, in part to supply power for data centers that are needed for artificial intelligence applications. While there’s strong demand for carbon-free fission power, ...