Tennessee’s history of nuclear discovery is one marked by pivotal chapters. It’s also a story that is far from over.
The nation’s vast — and scaling — power demands have shifted advanced nuclear technologies to the forefront of long-term clean energy solutions. Fresh industry momentum is beginning to enrich Tennessee in more ways than one, as nearly 80% of all capital investment in the state went to its rural counties in 2025 — a spike led by what most are calling a nuclear renaissance.
It’s a revival Governor Bill Lee got ahead of with the launch of the Nuclear Energy Fund in 2023. It created the nation’s largest dedicated nuclear development fund, aiming to support the industry with more than just extensive expertise, leading nuclear R&D facilities and skilled talent. The now $70 million fund has distributed over $40 million to 12 projects in the last two years, ranging from industry investment grants to new workforce development programming and targeted site development.
Among those awarded projects, six companies — Type One Energy, Orano USA, BWXT, Master Machine, Oklo and now Radiant Industries — have delivered a combined $7 billion in capital investment and upwards of 2,000 new jobs.
“The state’s Nuclear Energy Fund is critical, and it’s not just the dollars,” says Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation President Mike McGill. “It’s the recognition by the Governor and the General Assembly that this is an important business and industrial sector of the future of our nation.”
He notes that nuclear activity concentrated in East Tennessee, namely the Oak Ridge region, has delivered a diverse range of industry activity from uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel production to innovative R&D and the construction of small modular reactors. These companies are also finding renewed sites, such as legacy real estate used during the Manhattan Project, thanks in part to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) cleanup contractor UCOR.
“The history we have in Oak Ridge — 80 years since the Manhattan Project up until today — our people understand nuclear, they understand uranium and they understand the science and technology around it,” says McGill. “Then add the supportive ecosystem we have, the engineering companies, the consulting firms, the technology and computer programming companies that are in Oak Ridge. They’ve been here, they’re strong and bring knowledgeable experience.”
It’s an incomparable recipe for industry success, and one that the city’s newest arrival Radiant was willing to circle back for.
Prior to the company’s announcement of a $280 million manufacturing and R&D facility in the Oak Ridge corridor in October 2025, Radiant weighed its options elsewhere, but not for long, before returning to commit. In the years to come, the company will pioneer the mass production of the world’s first one-megawatt portable nuclear generator, Kaleidos.
“We chose Oak Ridge, Tennessee, because of their strong workforce, the community’s rich nuclear heritage and the public’s second-to-none nuclear IQ,” said Radiant COO Tori Shivanandan. “Just as importantly, the state’s business-friendly environment gave us the immediate regulatory certainty we needed to move fast and be up and running to meet growing customer demand for our Kaleidos nuclear generators. We’re excited to start building in just a few months.”
A Renewed Legacy
Asked if Orano USA would have done anything differently in its initial national site selection search for its multi-billion Project Ike uranium enrichment facility, President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer simply says, “Yes.”
“We would have looked first at Oak Ridge, Tennessee,” he continues, “instead of working through a long list of 15 other locations.”
Project Ike, first announced in September 2024, will deliver one of the largest commercial uranium enrichment production facilities in the U.S., spanning about 750,000 sq. ft. upon completion in 2031. Once operational, the facility will carry an annual production capacity of several million separative work units. This domestic supply of enriched uranium will become vital to both nuclear fuel production and ensuring the nation’s energy security.
The DOE is continuing site preparations in order to transfer site ownership to the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, which is expected to be completed by early 2026. In the meantime, Orano has opened its office just 10 miles from the site at the Oak Ridge Horizon Center Industrial Park to ensure its base of office employees — including engineers, project managers and licensing personnel — are in place.
Orano USA’s Oak Ridge site will welcome over 300 new jobs once operational.
Rendering courtesy of Orano
Palayer says that Oak Ridge residents and leadership have a deep understanding and interest in nuclear activity, as they know the multi-generational benefits from long-term, well-paying jobs created by the industry. For a company in operation for over 60 years in the U.S., he says the Project Ike investment is its most significant project targeting the nation’s needs.
“The scope of Tennessee’s vision enacted by its federal, state and regional leadership for driving the nuclear renaissance has been amazing,” he says. “Not only are they supporting uranium enrichers like our project, but also nuclear fuel manufacturers, advanced reactor developers, national labs’ R&D, supply chain creation and workforce development from grade school to graduation.”
Following Orano’s project announcement, the region has seen a domino effect of fresh project investment heading in. Exactly one year later, nuclear technology company Oklo unveiled a $1.7 billion investment for a nuclear fuel recycling center, followed by BWXT’s $122 million nuclear fuel services facility expansion. Just weeks later, Radiant made its entrance.
“I would tell other industry executives interested in locating in Oak Ridge to follow our example: We are very intentional with our active role as a new Oak Ridge corporate citizen to be open, transparent and accessible with our activities and communications,” says Palayer.
While most activity in the Oak Ridge corridor comes from permitted projects from the DOE or Nuclear Regulatory Commission, McGill says a robust supply chain network is beginning to expand throughout East Tennessee. It’s a welcome sign of what’s to come for the industry.
“The new slogan by the East Tennessee Economic Council sums it up nicely,” says Palayer. “ ‘Nuclear is Here: Powering Tennessee’s Future.’ ”
This Investment Profile has been prepared under the auspices of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. For more information, visit tnecd.com.
