GE Vernova to Build BWRX-300 Reactors in $40 Billion US-Japan Plan
US and Japan commit $40 billion to develop BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama with GE Vernova leading engineering. Japan will invest $33 billion in natural gas power plants in Pennsylvania and Texas under a $550 billion bilateral investment fund supporting AI data center demand.
1. US-Japan $40 Billion SMR Initiative
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi launched a joint $40 billion initiative to deploy small modular reactors across key American regions. GE Vernova and Hitachi will partner on BWRX-300 units slated for Tennessee and Alabama, marking one of the largest private projects in the sector.
2. GE Vernova’s BWRX-300 Role
GE Vernova will lead the engineering and supply of the BWRX-300 SMR design, leveraging its modular construction to target faster build times and lower upfront costs. The initiative covers full project development, including site preparation and reactor assembly.
3. Regulatory and Deployment Timeline
All SMR projects must clear the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval process, with no commercial units yet operating on US grids. Executives estimate the first reactor deployments could span multiple years, contingent on licensing and state-level permits.
4. Broader Energy Investment Context
The nuclear plan complements a separate $33 billion Japanese investment in natural gas facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas, funded by a $550 billion bilateral investment framework. The combined strategy aims to bolster US energy security and support growth in power-hungry data centers.