2026-03-09 date permit issued
The NRC issued construction permit CPAR-1 to a TerraPower subsidiary on 9 March 2026, authorising construction of Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 in Wyoming.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission840 MWt
TerraPower's Kemmerer Unit 1 is a pool-type sodium fast reactor rated at 840 megawatts thermal, with molten salt tanks that can be used for energy storage.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission462 MWe
The NRC completed its review of NuScale's US460 small modular reactor Standard Design Approval in May 2025; the design is 77 MWe per module and 462 MWe in total.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWhy this market is moving now
- The NRC issued a construction permit for TerraPower's Kemmerer Unit 1 on 9 March 2026.
- The NRC issued its Part 53 licensing rule on 25 March 2026 as a new pathway for advanced reactors.
- The NRC's milestone table shows TVA's Clinch River BWRX-300 safety review complete on 25 June 2026.
- Amazon, Google and utilities are signing capacity deals, such as the October 2026 plan for a 960 MW Xe-100 project in Indiana.
Key figures
Each figure links to the page it came from.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The NRC issued construction permit CPAR-1 to a TerraPower subsidiary on 9 March 2026, authorising construction of Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 in Wyoming. | 2026-03-09 date permit issued | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| TerraPower's Kemmerer Unit 1 is a pool-type sodium fast reactor rated at 840 megawatts thermal, with molten salt tanks that can be used for energy storage. | 840 MWt | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| The NRC completed its review of NuScale's US460 small modular reactor Standard Design Approval in May 2025; the design is 77 MWe per module and 462 MWe in total. | 462 MWe | 2025 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| The NRC's milestone table for TVA's Clinch River BWRX-300 construction permit application lists the Final Safety Evaluation Report as complete on 25 June 2026. | 2026-06-25 | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| Long Mott Energy applied on 31 March 2025 for an NRC construction permit for a four-module Xe-100 plant of 320 MWe in Calhoun County, Texas. | 320 MWe | 2025 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| On 25 March 2026 the NRC issued its Part 53 rule, a new licensing pathway for advanced reactors. | 2026-03-25 | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| On 13 February 2026 the NRC accepted SMR, LLC's limited work authorization application for a dual-unit SMR-300 plant at the Palisades site in Michigan. | 2026-02-13 date accepted | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| On 8 February 2026 the NRC accepted Duke Energy Carolinas' early site permit application for the Belews Creek site in North Carolina. | 2026-02-08 date accepted | 2026 | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
| Google's agreement with Kairos Power will enable up to 500 MW of new carbon-free power, with Kairos's first SMR targeted online by 2030 and more reactors through 2035. | 500 MW (up to) | 2035 | |
| X-energy and Amazon's collaboration aims to bring more than 5 GW of new nuclear capacity to the US grid by 2039. | 5 GW (more than) | 2039 | X-energy |
| X-energy and AEP signed a joint development agreement in October 2026 to study a proposed 960 MW, 12-unit Xe-100 project in Sullivan County, Indiana, with Amazon funding development work. | 960 MW | 2026 | X-energy |
Companies to watch
TerraPower
Holds the NRC construction permit for Kemmerer Unit 1 (Natrium sodium fast reactor).
NuScale Power
Its 462 MWe US460 design completed NRC Standard Design Approval review in May 2025.
X-energy
Xe-100 developer with an Amazon collaboration targeting more than 5 GW by 2039.
Tennessee Valley Authority
Applicant for a BWRX-300 construction permit at Clinch River; NRC final safety evaluation dated 25 June 2026.
Kairos Power
Developer in a Google agreement for up to 500 MW.
What the full report covers
- 1
Executive summary
The answer on two pages: size, growth and what drives it.
- 2
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- 3
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The main players, how they compete and where they are investing.
- 5
Data and method
Every figure in Excel, with the sources and assumptions behind it.
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the United States market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
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Frequently asked questions
Has the NRC approved a US advanced reactor construction permit?
Yes. The NRC says it issued construction permit CPAR-1 for TerraPower's Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 on 9 March 2026.
Has the NRC approved a small modular reactor design?
The NRC says it completed review of NuScale's US460 Standard Design Approval in May 2025. The design is 77 MWe per module and 462 MWe in total.
Which SMR projects are under NRC review?
NRC pages list TVA's Clinch River BWRX-300 construction permit, Long Mott Energy's four-module Xe-100 plant in Texas, an SMR-300 limited work authorization at Palisades, and Duke Energy's Belews Creek early site permit.
Are tech companies buying SMR power?
Google's agreement with Kairos Power covers up to 500 MW. Amazon and X-energy aim for more than 5 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2039 and are studying a 960 MW project in Indiana.
What is the NRC's Part 53 rule?
The NRC issued Part 53 on 25 March 2026 as a new licensing pathway meant to speed deployment of advanced reactors.
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Advanced Reactor Highlights (2026-03-09)
On March 9, the NRC staff issued construction permit CPAR-1 to US SFR Owner, LLC (USO), a wholly owned subsidiary of TerraPower
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: TerraPower, LLC -- Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Application (2026-09-14)
840 megawatts thermal
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: NuScale US460 Standard Design Approval Application Review (undated page, read 2026-10-27)
Power per module 77 MWe per nuclear power module (NPM) Number of NPMs 6 US460 SDA Total Power 462 MWe
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: TVA Clinch River CPA (2026-09-30)
Final Safety Evaluation Report (ML26168A505) June 25, 2026 – A
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Long Mott Energy, LLC – Long Mott Generating Station Xe-100 Power Reactor Application (undated page, read 2026-10-27)
4-Module plant with 800 MWth/320 MWe
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Advanced Reactor Highlights (2026-03-25)
On March 25, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a new licensing pathway that accelerates safe, innovative reactor deployment
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Advanced Reactor Highlights (2026-02-13)
On February 13, 2026, the staff accepted SMR, LLC’s application for a phased construction permit application, including a limited work authorization (LWA) request.
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Advanced Reactor Highlights (2026-02-09)
On February 8, the staff accepted Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC’s application for an early site permit (ESP) at the Belews Creek site, North Carolina.
- Google: New nuclear clean energy agreement with Kairos Power (2024-10-14)
this deal will enable up to 500 MW of new 24/7 carbon-free power to U.S. electricity grids
- X-energy: X-energy, Amazon, American Electric Power Partner to Bring SMR Project to Indiana (2026-10-19)
aimed at bringing more than 5 GW of new nuclear capacity to the U.S. grid by 2039.
- X-energy: X-energy, Amazon, American Electric Power Partner to Bring SMR Project to Indiana (2026-10-19)
feasibility work for a proposed 960 MW Xe-100 small modular reactor (“SMR”) project in Indiana.
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