WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Department of Energy selected eight companies to receive more than $94 million in federal funding aimed at accelerating deployment of advanced light-water small modular reactors, part of a broader push to expand domestic nuclear generation capacity and strengthen the U.S. nuclear supply chain.
The awards target licensing, site preparation and manufacturing gaps that federal officials view as obstacles to deploying Generation III+ small modular reactors, or SMRs, later this decade and into the 2030s.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright described nuclear power as central to the administration’s energy strategy, citing growing electricity demand tied to manufacturing, data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The funding is being distributed through the department’s Generation III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment Program.
Two projects focus on site preparation and licensing. Constellation SMR Development will receive about $17.3 million to pursue an early site permit in New York, while Nebraska Public Power District will receive about $27.9 million to secure an early site permit in Nebraska.
Six additional awards target supply chain expansion and manufacturing capacity.
BWXT Nuclear Energy will receive approximately $21.4 million to expand reactor component manufacturing capabilities at its Indiana facility. Framatome received $8.8 million to expand fuel fabrication capacity in Washington state, while Global Nuclear Fuel Americas secured $3 million to establish a second fuel rod production line in North Carolina.
Additional funding recipients include American Forgemasters Company in Pennsylvania, which will receive $2.9 million for furnace upgrades tied to large nuclear component production; Scot Forge in Illinois, which will receive roughly $12.3 million for heavy manufacturing equipment; and Container Technologies Industries in Tennessee, which received approximately $548,000 to expand nuclear quality assurance certifications.
The announcement follows a broader $900 million Department of Energy solicitation issued in March 2025 to support deployment of Generation III+ SMRs. In December 2025, the department announced $800 million in separate awards to the Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec International for reactor projects in Tennessee and Michigan.
The department stated additional awards could be issued if more funding becomes available.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.