"Wright said that the US would have at least one reactor online "before July 4th of next year," with several others coming online over the rest of 2026. "It's not the back-end electricity production, but the whole nuclear system running, demonstrating how it will work," Wright added. "I think this will expedite final permitting and sales and commercialization of the reactors.""
"That's a lot of optimism given that small nuclear reactors (SMRs), which promise the best of nuclear energy - no carbon emissions, constant and readily available power, and high output - without the possibility of apocalyptic meltdowns, have been hyped up for years but so far failed to materialize. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has only approved two SMR designs for commercial construction in the US, and both are actually iterations of the same design from NuScale, one able to produce 50 MW of energy and an upgraded 77 MW model."
"Approval doesn't mean much if you can't get one built, however, and that's been NuScale's biggest problem so far. The company partnered with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems to build its first-ever grid-connected plant, but those efforts were abandoned in late 2023 due to cost overruns and a lack of interest from subscribers. Along with being the only certified SMR designs in the US, NuScale's reactors also have a leg up thanks to their use of low-enriched uranium fuel - the same type used in the large-scale reactors of the prior nuclear age."
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the country will have at least one small modular reactor operational before July 4, 2026, with several more arriving throughout 2026. Small modular reactors promise low-carbon, constant, high-output power with reduced meltdown risk but have not yet been built at commercial scale in the US. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved two SMR designs, both NuScale iterations producing 50 MW and 77 MW. NuScale abandoned a planned Utah grid-connected plant in late 2023 due to cost overruns and insufficient subscribers. NuScale's designs use low-enriched uranium fuel common to large reactors.
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