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Gov. Bill Haslam says chief deputy Claude Ramsey is retiring at the end of August to spend more time with his family in Chattanooga.More >> Gov. Bill Haslam says chief deputy Claude Ramsey is retiring at the end of August to spend more time with his family in Chattanooga.More >> Two Knox County parents are now facing charges in the death of their 6-month-old daughter.More >> Two Knox County parents are now facing charges in the death of their 6-month-old daughter.More >> On the outside, The Cheesecake Factory at West Town Mall looks all ready to go, but the sign outside says they are closed for training.More >> On the outside, The Cheesecake Factory at West Town Mall looks all ready to go, but the sign outside says they are closed for training.More >> A local lawmaker is speaking out against a proposed measure that could alter the way teachers are paid in the state.More >> A local lawmaker is speaking out against a proposed measure that could alter the way teachers are paid in the state.More >> There are more than 30 Pilot Flying J employees named in the affidavit for the federal investigation with five of them entering guilty pleas to fraud charges.More >> There are more than 30 Pilot Flying J employees named in the affidavit for the federal investigation with five of them entering guilty pleas to fraud charges.More >> A discount vacation club from Sevierville has closed its doors, creating a big financial loss for nearly 1,500 customers in several states.More >> A discount vacation club from Sevierville has closed its doors, creating a big financial loss for nearly 1,500 customers in several states.More >> The city of Niota is again without insurance and has shut down most city services.More >> The city of Niota is again without insurance and has shut down most city services.More >> The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing a $70,000 fine against the Tennessee Valley Authority for violations related to one of its East Tennessee nuclear plants.More >> The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing a $70,000 fine against the Tennessee Valley Authority for violations related to one of its East Tennessee nuclear plants.More >> Three people associated with the Bloods gang were arrested Tuesday after investigators found drugs at a Knox County home.More >> Three people associated with the Bloods gang were arrested Tuesday after investigators found drugs at a Knox County home.More >> A new collection of Barbie dolls is helping University of Tennessee fans show off their volunteer pride.More >> A new collection of Barbie dolls is helping University of Tennessee fans show off their volunteer pride.More >>
KNOXVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority says it has signed an agreement with Babcock & Wilcox to explore building the nation's first small modular nuclear reactor.
TVA hopes to build the unit at its Clinch River Site in Oak Ridge and to eventually add three more such reactors there.
The reactors would produce about 20% of the electricity generated by standard light-water reactors now in use. Advantages would be more of the manufacturing being done in factories, reducing construction time, and more standardization of reactors.
The agreement signed Feb. 7 formalizes the process under which a license application will eventually be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
TVA provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving nine million people in parts of seven southeastern states.
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