Energy department hands out $800M in grants for small nuclear reactors

The Department of Energy awarded $800 million in grants to advance small nuclear reactor development, with Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec each receiving $400 million. TVA will build one 300-megawatt reactor in Tennessee using GE Vernova Hitachi technology, while Holtec will construct two similar reactors in Michigan. These Generation III+ small modular reactors aim to reduce costs through mass production and streamlined construction, addressing growing electricity demand from tech companies expanding AI operations.