https://k4i.com/tags/smr/ Recent content in SMR on k4i.com Hugo en-us Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://k4i.com/small-modular-reactors-in-the-us-the-2026-deployment-race/ Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://k4i.com/small-modular-reactors-in-the-us-the-2026-deployment-race/ <p>The US small modular reactor industry crossed a psychological threshold this year. No SMR has entered commercial operation domestically, but 2026 is shaping up as the year the first construction permits and criticality milestones actually land — and the trigger isn&rsquo;t climate policy, it&rsquo;s AI data-center power demand.</p> <h2 id="the-federal-push">The Federal Push</h2> <p>The Department of Energy&rsquo;s Gen III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment Program has become the primary vehicle for de-risking early builds. DOE issued a $900 million solicitation in March 2025, followed by $800 million in Tier 1 awards in December 2025 to the Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec Government Services. In May 2026, DOE added a further $94 million across eight companies under Tier 2, targeting licensing, supply chain, and site preparation gaps that have historically stalled domestic nuclear projects.</p>