TN Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Final Report & Recommendations

In May 2023, Gov. Bill Lee established the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council through Executive Order 101, tasking the Council with advancing Tennessee’s nuclear leadership and expanding its nuclear energy ecosystem. The Council consisted of 22 members from industry, higher education, workforce development, and government, and was led by Chairman David W. Salyers, TN Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner, and Vice Chairman Jeff Smith, University of Tennessee vice president for National Laboratories.

On October 31, 2024, the Council issued its Final Report to help the State of Tennessee move forward with new nuclear generation along with the nuclear workforce and supply chain that sustains it. The Council’s report includes 19 recommendations in five key areas that reinforce Tennessee’s leading position in the nuclear industry and will enable deployment of critical baseload carbon free energy and support for a vibrant nuclear ecosystem that is key to the State’s overall economy.

The report’s primary conclusion was recognition of the benefits of leadership and success with the potential future deployment of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River Nuclear Site - benefits that will extend far beyond the Tennessee Valley. The Council recommended the State should actively coordinate with and assist the Tennessee Valley Authority in support of TVA’s consideration of deploying an SMR at the Clinch River site – potentially the first SMR to generate power for the electrical grid in the United States. The Council agrees that TVA’s approach is the lowest risk approach to deploying new nuclear and provides the shortest possible time frame to not only deploy a first reactor but subsequent reactors by the end of the next decade, at costs the market can bear. “For new nuclear to become a reality there has to be a first mover,” said Jeff Smith, Council Vice Chairman. “There is no other utility in the United States better positioned to lead in this regard than TVA. Not just for TVA, but for our nation’s security, we need TVA to be successful in deployment of new nuclear at Clinch River.”

Other priority conclusions and related recommendations in the Council’s report include:

• There are more than 230 nuclear companies in Tennessee, but the State still has opportunities to strengthen incentives that are relevant to the nuclear industry to attract additional supply chain assets. The Council recommends sustaining and growing the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Supply Chain Investment Fund administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
• While there are significant nuclear education assets in Tennessee, there is still need for a holistic, integrated approach for training and educating the number of new workers needed for an expanding nuclear industry. The Council recommends a three-year pilot for a new Tennessee Nuclear Energy Workforce Center (T-NEWC), that will develop an integrated nuclear workforce enterprise in Tennessee addressing the need for inter-agency coordination, resource sharing, and program mapping to bridge gaps in workforce development.
• The State should develop a unified roadmap that aligns Tennessee’s regulatory, emergency preparedness and workforce strategies with the needs of the nuclear industry. A particular opportunity exists in developing a comprehensive regulatory framework addressing fusion power that continues to enhance Tennessee’s reputation and appeal to pioneering companies.
  
• No single entity can bring new nuclear to life. Partnerships and coalitions will be essential to successful deployment of new nuclear at scale.

TN Nuclear Energy & Supply Chain Investment Fund

Since February 2024, the Fund has announced economic incentive and workforce awards for the following:

Type One Energy to establish headquarters and expand R&D operations to Tennessee

Roane State Community College for startup equipment in new Nuclear Technology Program and University of Tennessee to establish a nuclear minor in the Tickle College of Engineering

Orano USA to locate uranium enrichment operations in Oak Ridge as their multi-billion-dollar project represents single largest investment in Tennessee history

Tennessee Tech University to launch new B.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Gov. Lee’s GIVE 3.0 Grants include $2 million for Nuclear Science Pathway at Knoxville TCAT and $450,000 for Nuclear Pathway at Roane State Community College

Nuclear development in our local community and region means economic investment and partnerships that will provide new opportunities and prosperity for our citizens. Critically, the further development of nuclear energy will ensure a resilient, reliable, safe and clean source of energy to meet the demands of today, and tomorrow.