Small modular reactor developers reached a series of licensing and construction milestones that moved the technology closer to commercial operation in the United States. The progress spans several companies at different stages of the regulatory pipeline.
NuScale Power remains the only SMR design with full Nuclear Regulatory Commission certification, having received design certification for its 50-megawatt module and a standard design approval for its uprated 77-megawatt US460 design. The company is advancing a multi-gigawatt program with the Tennessee Valley Authority and a development partner. TerraPower broke ground on its Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming and secured an NRC construction permit, making it one of the first advanced reactors under construction in the country.
Oklo broke ground on its Aurora Powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory and received NRC approval of a principal design criteria report that supports future licensing, while advancing a separate project toward a combined license application. TerraPower and Kairos Power are considered the next most advanced in NRC engagement after NuScale. The milestones indicate the SMR sector is transitioning from design work toward physical construction, though most units remain years from supplying power to the grid. Federal support and data center demand continue to underpin the investment.
Source: SMR Intel - https://smrintel.com/state-of-smr-2026/