The Department of Energy has awarded a total of $94 million to eight nuclear companies to support efforts to accelerate small modular reactor (SMR) domestic deployment, the agency said Thursday.
DOE said in its press release that awardees will receive more than $94 million in a federal-cost share to prompt more SMR deployments through addressing gaps such as licensing, supply chain and site preparation. DOE made the selection of these companies under its Generation III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment Program.
“Projects will bolster the supply chain needed to deliver new nuclear generation in the 2030s, strengthen the development of Gen III+ SMR orderbooks, and advance President [Donald] Trump’s executive orders to usher in a nuclear renaissance and expand America’s Energy Dominance agenda,” DOE said.
Constellation SMR Development and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) were awarded by DOE for SMR site selection and preparation. Constellation SMR Development, a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, was awarded $17.2 million to pursue a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-approved early site permit for a location in New York. Likewise, NPPD was awarded $27.8 million to do the same in Nebraska.
The other portion of the awards was dedicated to SMR supply chain development, where six companies were recipients. According to the release, DOE selected these companies:
- BWX Technologies Nuclear Energy was awarded $21.4 million to procure equipment at an existing facility in Mount Vernon, Ind., that is needed for final assembly of reactor pressure vessels and the manufacture of other large reactor components.
- Scot Forge Company was awarded $12.2 million to procure and install large vertical tuning lathe and gantry milling machines for a facility in Spring Grove, Ill., to produce large components for SMRs.
- Framatome U.S. Government Solutions was awarded $8.8 million to expand its fuel fabrication facility in Richland, Wash., by increasing the number of ceramic pellet production lines.
- Global Nuclear Fuel Americas was awarded $3 million to create a second production line for fuel rod fabrication for boiling water reactors, buy capital equipment to automate the pellet inspection process and implement automated storage and handling for pellets at its facility in Wilmington, N.C.
- American Forgemasters Company was awarded $2.9 million to procure a furnace for its facility in New Castle, Penn., to facilitate domestic production of large components for SMRs.
- Container Technologies Industries was awarded $547,900 to expand its nuclear quality assurance certifications for its facility in Helenwood, Tenn., to enable the company to produce steel for SMR deployment.
In March 2025, DOE issued a $900 million solicitation to mitigate risk within the deployment of SMRs. The solicitation had two tiers: First Mover Team Support and Fast Follower Deployment Support.
Tier 1, First Mover Team Support, provided funding to assist with initial deployment of SMRs. In December 2025, DOE awarded up to $800 million between Holtec and the Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce risk in their respective SMR projects in Michigan and Tennessee.
Tier 2, Fast Follower Deployment Support, aims to fund efforts to address gaps, such as improved designs, licensing support, supplier developments, and site preparation, for future nuclear deployment. DOE said that more awards may be issued under Tier 2 if additional funds become available.
“President Trump has made clear that America is going to build more energy, not less, and nuclear is central to that mission,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. “Advanced light-water SMRs will give our nation the reliable, round-the-clock power we need to fuel the President’s manufacturing boom, support data centers and AI [artificial intelligence] growth, and reinforce a stronger, more secure electric grid. These awards ensure we can deploy these reactors as soon as possible.”