Friday, January 27, 2023

Rockville firm seeks to build nuclear fuel plant in Tennessee


TRISO-X, a subsidiary of Rockville-based X-Energy, has proposed construction of a nuclear fuel facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The plant would convert uranium into nuclear fuel for use in reactors. X-Energy says the facility would create at least 400 jobs in the Oak Ridge and Anderson County area. Public input on the proposal is currently being sought from residents in the Oak Ridge area by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C.


The company and local officials appear confident that the plant will be permitted, as TRISO-X has already broken ground on the project. “The fuel X-energy will produce at this Oak Ridge facility will build a more robust and secure nuclear energy supply chain—supporting the deployment of nuclear energy on a scale never seen before,” TRISO-X President Dr. Pete Pappano said in a statement. “With support from the U.S. Department of Energy, we are proud that TRISO-X is leading the commercial development of this safe, innovative technology and that it will be among the first advanced nuclear fuels demonstrated in a grid-scale next-generation reactor.” 

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R - Tennessee) has endorsed the project. “The work X-Energy will do in Oak Ridge will bring the country closer to regaining energy independence while providing a safer, cheaper, and more flexible nuclear fuel option in TRISO-X," Blackburn said. "I am thrilled they have decided to invest in East Tennessee and bring even more jobs and innovation to the Volunteer State.”

X-Energy is located at 801 Thompson Avenue, near the Twinbrook Metro station in Rockville.

Photos courtesy TRISO-X/X-Energy

1 comment:

  1. So, why aren't you ranting and raving about why they aren't building their plant here in MoCo like you do with other companies? Just think of all the jobs they are robbing the county of Robby.

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