Nuclear Companies & Capabilities

Download the Nuclear Industry Impact fact sheet & the Nuclear Workforce fact sheets for quick info.

Here are a few reasons why the nuclear industry is coming to East Tennessee.

• FEDERAL SUPPORT: A nuclear advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Chair of the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and co-chair of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus.
• STATE SUPPORT: A pro-nuclear Governor and State Legislature that has allocated a total of $152.6 million to recruit innovative nuclear companies, expand the growth of existing nuclear companies, grow the workforce, and research and development (R&D) for both fusion and fission technologies.
• ALIGNED COMMUNITY: Anderson and Roane counties and the City of Oak Ridge have aligned to create the Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation (ORCDC). This entity will be a resource to attract and locate nuclear companies to East Tennessee.
• TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: Access to R&D capabilities and collaboration with some of the world’s experts relative to advanced nuclear technologies at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Oak Ridge Associated Universities offering collaborative environments for advanced nuclear technologies.
• SMR PIONEERING: TVA’s Clinch River Site where they are making plans to site multiple small modular reactors by early 2030s as a sign of forward-thinking leadership to meet the state’s future energy demand with clean, safe, reliable, nuclear power.
• FUEL FABRICATION: In East Tennessee Centrus Energy designs, tests, and manufactures the world’s most advanced uranium enrichment centrifuge machines. Centrus also supports other companies in the advanced reactor fuel cycle by leveraging its decades of expertise in uranium chemistry, nuclear facility licensing, and criticality analysis.
• URANIUM ENRICHMENT: Orano USA has committed to building a uranium enrichment plant in Oak Ridge. It will be one of the largest in North America.
• INNOVATION HUB: A hub of advanced nuclear innovators making their home in Oak Ridge: Kairos Power, TRISO-X, Standard Nuclear, Lis Technologies, Nano Nuclear, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, along with fusion energy innovator Type One Energy.
• KNOWLEDGEABLE POPULACE: A pro-nuclear community with a pool of talented individuals who have expertise in nuclear operations.
• EDUCATIONAL SYNERGY: A strong system of education and workforce partnerships with the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Technological University in addition to nuclear training programs provided by Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technologies and Community Colleges including Roane State, Pellissippi State, and Chattanooga State. Labor partnerships provide additional apprenticeship opportunities.
• COLLABORATION: Oak Ridge Associated University's (ORAU) new STEM Accelerator program Partnerships for Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Energy Academic Alliance is focusing on the Nuclear Science and Technology workforce in order to meet urgent needs within this industry along with building the proposed Tennessee Nuclear Energy Workforce Center.
• REINDUSTRIALIZATION SUCCESS: A diligent and focused DOE Environmental Management program whose contractor, UCOR is completing legacy cleanup at the Y-12 National Security Complex and ORNL to make way for new missions. This team also cleaned up the East Tennessee Technology Park, (former K-25 Manhattan Era site). Many nuclear companies have located in this brownfield site, now called Heritage Center, and in the adjoining Horizon Center Industrial Park.