Editor’s Note: This article was paid for by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and approved and written by Area Development.
Tennessee has long played a critical role in America’s nuclear industry. From Oak Ridge’s roots in the Manhattan Project to today’s cutting-edge research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the state has been at the forefront of nuclear innovation. Now, with a strategic focus on workforce development and industry expansion, Tennessee is doubling down on its nuclear future.
Building on a Legacy
Nestled just outside Knoxville, Oak Ridge is home to the largest Department of Energy and Science laboratory in the country. While the city’s history is well known, its future is turning heads. Recent investments in workforce training and infrastructure are positioning Tennessee as the place where nuclear companies can not only manufacture but also design, engineer, and innovate.
A prime example of this momentum is the Nuclear Energy Fund, established through Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order 101. Originally backed with $50 million in 2023, the fund provides financial incentives to nuclear-related companies expanding in Tennessee while also strengthening higher education programs that are training the next generation of nuclear workers. An additional $10 million was approved in 2024 to further advance the initiative with another $10 million recently proposed in Gov. Bill Lee’s FY2026 budget, which is currently under review.
Why Invest in Nuclear Now?
With energy at the center of nearly every business expansion conversation, Tennessee’s economic development team and its partners at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have made nuclear a priority. The Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, a 22-member body, is guiding investment strategies to support nuclear businesses and ensure the state remains a leader in clean, reliable energy.
When you’ve got other nuclear energy companies around you—General Fusion, X-energy—it’s like you’re with your people. The whole package Oak Ridge put together was unmatched by anywhere else in the nation for our particular facility.
Since its launch, the Nuclear Energy Fund has already helped two companies and three educational institutions accelerate nuclear development in Tennessee. Type One Energy is bringing a total of 330 new jobs to East Tennessee, where it will establish its headquarters in the Greater Knoxville region and build its Infinity One stellarator fusion prototype at TVA’s Bull Run Fossil Plant site in Anderson County. Orano USA has selected Oak Ridge as the site for a multi-billion-dollar uranium enrichment facility, expected to create more than 300 jobs and become Tennessee’s largest private investment to date. In addition to corporate investment, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Roane State Community College, and Tennessee Tech University are all expanding nuclear education programs, preparing students for careers in engineering, reactor systems, and nuclear safety.
The Power of a Nuclear Ecosystem
A key reason companies like Orano are choosing Tennessee is the state’s uniquely supportive nuclear ecosystem. The combination of top-tier R&D at ORNL, TVA’s energy infrastructure, a pro-nuclear regulatory environment, and a skilled workforce pipeline creates an unbeatable advantage.
“When you go to a community, you want to be welcomed. You want to see your place in that community,” said Curtis Roberts from Orano USA. “When you’ve got other nuclear energy companies around you—General Fusion, X-energy—it’s like you’re with your people. The whole package Oak Ridge put together was unmatched by anywhere else in the nation for our particular facility.”
Leading the Future of Nuclear Energy
Tennessee’s investment in nuclear is not just about jobs—it’s about securing the nation’s energy future. By fostering a pro-business environment, supporting next-generation reactor and fusion development, and investing in a world-class workforce, the state is ensuring that the companies shaping the future of energy are doing so right here.
For businesses looking to be part of the next wave of nuclear innovation, Tennessee is more than a great location—it’s the nuclear capital of the future.
