Governor Bill Lee signed a proclamation on Monday declaring the week of September 14 through September 18, 2026, as Nuclear Energy Week.
“Our state has an unmatched legacy of nuclear innovation, and we remain committed to advancing America’s energy dominance while preserving the natural resources that make Tennessee special,” Lee said on social media.
Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty called Tennessee “the national leader in nuclear energy.”
“Let’s continue guiding America on the path towards nuclear energy dominance,” the senator noted on X.
According to the proclamation, the Volunteer State “is well positioned to lead America’s energy dominance and security, serving as a model for the rest of the nation while bringing continued opportunity and prosperity to Tennesseans.”
“Tennessee maintains a strong commitment to reliable, resilient, safe, and clean nuclear energy to power America and communities across the state,” the proclamation added.
This week, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced a partnership with the United Kingdom to speed up the commercial deployment of nuclear fusion energy.
The partnership will allow Tennessee and the United Kingdom to improve advanced manufacturing, exchange scientific and technical materials, develop workers, and exchange talent.
TVA Interim President & CEO Mike Skaggs said the company is “committed” to getting “fusion projects online in the Tennessee Valley” and creating “workforce and economic opportunities.”
“Strengthening collaboration with partners at Tennessee’s world‑class research institutions and in the United Kingdom will accelerate the pathways to deployment,” he explained.
The deal followed Tennessee’s implementation of regulations for nuclear fusion machines in June. The state’s regulations are similar to those of the United Kingdom’s UK Energy Act 2023.
In July, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it chose Tennessee as one of the five states that could host the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. If Tennessee is chosen, it could potentially provide $50 billion in capital investment, $10 billion in state revenue, and 25,000 new jobs.
Tennessee has seen a variety of nuclear energy companies invest and expand their operations this year. TRISO-X, a nuclear fuel company, said in July it would create 1,140 new jobs at its Oak Ridge facility after getting an $11 million grant from the State of Tennessee.
In January, Tennessee saw two companies invest heavily in the state’s nuclear industry. LIS Technologies said it would invest $1.4 billion to help build the world’s first American-origin commercial laser uranium enrichment plant.
The company expected the investment to create over 200 jobs.
Centrus announced it would invest over $560 million and create nearly 430 jobs. This investment went towards building more advanced nuclear centrifuges.
Last year, Oklo invested nearly $2 billion in Tennessee. The nuclear energy company would be located at the Oka Ridge Heritage Center, on a 247-acre site, and would recycle used nuclear fuel.
The new facility would be America’s first privately funded nuclear recycling-capable facility.
Oklo’s investment would create more than 800 jobs.
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Bill Lee.
