Known for its role in the Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is once again making history.
A Maryland-based nuclear technologies company, Orano USA, has announced plans to construct a centrifuge uranium enrichment facility near the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The project – a multibillion-dollar capital investment for Tennessee – is expected to create more than 300 jobs, with salaries well above the average county wage. It’s the single-largest capital investment by a private company in Tennessee’s history, according to state leaders.
When the facility becomes operational, the project will be served by Oak Ridge Electric, a local power company that partners with Tennessee Valley Authority.
TVA leaders recently joined local and state economic development partners in Oak Ridge – birthplace of the first continuously operating nuclear reactor – to announce the project.
Don Moul, TVA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, highlighted the importance of public and private partnerships in transforming East Tennessee into a hub for nuclear technologies that benefit the entire region.
“The state of Tennessee is proudly cultivating a nuclear renaissance and leading the way in not only energy security, but also national security,” Moul said.
East Tennessee’s status as a nuclear technology incubator is made possible through partnerships among TVA, the Department of Energy, state and local economic development agencies, elected officials and innovative companies such as Orano, said Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO.
In May 2023, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee created the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council to drive continued nuclear energy innovation and investment across the state. Soon after, Lee appointed industry leaders, including Moul, onto the council to help guide the state toward a more competitive, clean energy future.
Lee partnered with the Tennessee General Assembly to designate $50 million for the establishment of a nuclear development and manufacturing ecosystem. That fund – recently increased by $10 million – provides grants and assistance to invest in new nuclear technologies as part of its clean energy strategy.
The TVA Board of Directors recently approved an additional $150 million in advanced nuclear funding, bringing the total to $350 million for the design, development and license application of small modular reactors at its Clinch River site near Oak Ridge.
Orano expects its future Oak Ridge facility to share similarities with the company’s enrichment facility in Tricastin, France, seen here.
This historic investment stands to deliver tremendous benefits to the region’s people.
Increased tax revenue for schools and community resources. Good-paying jobs. Continued recruitment of top talent. A leading role in the advancement of critical technologies.
Nuclear research and innovation have fueled Oak Ridge for more than 80 years, ever since the first shipment of uranium was sent to Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex attract some of the brightest minds in science, and the city itself has been shaped by the energy and defense industries.
Oak Ridge’s history as a scientific community helped pave the way for this type of project, said Derrick Collins, consultant with TVA Economic Development Northeast Valley Region.
Orano USA President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer talks about the many factors that brought the company to its new home in Oak Ridge.
The Orano team agrees.
During the project’s announcement, Orano USA President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer highlighted the many factors that brought the company to Oak Ridge, including support from local and state officials, strong opportunities for talent pipelines and the city’s longstanding history as a nuclear hub.
“Not only do you have a strong, deep culture with nuclear energy, but your community is incredibly welcoming. We already feel at home,” Palayer said.
From TVA’s perspective, perhaps the biggest win for a project like this is the chance to carry out its mission in communities like Oak Ridge and across the seven-state region.
“We always want to be a part of something that has an impact 20, 30 or 40 years down the line, to look back and know that we had a small piece in helping a community and company succeed,” Meryl Harris, target market specialist for TVA Global Business, said. “These projects are impactful, because they help us continue to serve the people of the Valley.”
Photos from the event are credited to: Dan Henry/TVA