DOE Awards $94 Million to 8 Companies to Speed U.S. SMR Deployment
Updated
Updated · Energy.gov · May 14
DOE Awards $94 Million to 8 Companies to Speed U.S. SMR Deployment
1 articles · Updated · Energy.gov · May 14
$94 million in federal cost-shared funding will go to eight companies to close licensing, site-preparation and supply-chain gaps slowing advanced light-water small modular reactors in the U.S.
Nebraska Public Power District won $27.9 million and Constellation $17.3 million to secure NRC-approved early site permits in Nebraska and New York for future Gen III+ SMR projects.
Five manufacturers and fuel suppliers received the rest to expand domestic reactor-component and fuel capacity, including BWXT for pressure-vessel assembly equipment and Framatome to add about 200 metric tons of annual uranium capacity.
The awards are part of DOE's Generation III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment program, which aims to build supply chains and reactor orderbooks needed for new nuclear generation in the 2030s.
The funding follows DOE's $900 million SMR solicitation in March 2025 and $800 million in Tier 1 awards in December 2025 to TVA and Holtec for projects in Tennessee and Michigan.
Can the U.S. rebuild its nuclear supply chain in time to compete with established Russian and Chinese reactor builders?
Will streamlined regulations prevent small reactors from facing the same cost overruns that plagued older nuclear projects?
As AI's energy demand soars, can new nuclear reactors be built fast enough to power the data center boom?
U.S. Bets $900 Million on Small Modular Reactors: Inside the DOE’s Push to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Leadership
Overview
In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy announced over $94 million in funding to accelerate Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment through a 'Fast Follower' strategy. This approach aims to bridge the gap between proven Generation III+ reactor designs and future innovations, expediting SMR deployment by leveraging current technologies. The initiative focuses on addressing key bottlenecks such as permitting, manufacturing, supply chain, and site readiness. By de-risking and streamlining the path for SMRs, the program supports building a robust domestic supply chain and prepares the groundwork for advanced nuclear energy solutions in the United States.