The US Department of Energy is directing $8.8 million to Framatome U.S. Government Solutions to expand the company's nuclear fuel fabrication plant in Richland, Washington. The award funds new ceramic pellet production lines expected to increase the facility's annual capacity by roughly 200 metric tons of uranium.
The grant is part of a $94 million package announced May 14 under the Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Pathway to Deployment Program, which aims to close gaps in licensing, supply chains, and site preparation for advanced light-water reactors. The largest share of that package, $27.9 million, went to Nebraska Public Power District for an early site permit, while Constellation SMR Development received $17.3 million for a permit in New York and BWXT Nuclear Energy received $21.4 million to equip a reactor pressure vessel assembly line in Indiana. Smaller awards went to companies in Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Illinois for steel production, fuel rod fabrication, forgings, and large-component machining.
Framatome's Richland site produces uranium dioxide powder, pellets, fuel rods, and fuel assemblies, and the company says about 5 percent of US electricity comes from fuel manufactured there. US Senator Patty Murray said the funding will create jobs and grow the Tri-Cities economy. The Energy Department has also reported that multiple next-generation reactors in its separate Reactor Pilot Program are on track to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.
Source: Lynnwood Times -- https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2026/06/03/nuclear/