$1.68 Billion Investment to Bring 800+ Nuclear Energy Jobs to Oak Ridge
OAK RIDGE, TN – September 15, 2025 – A new advanced fuel center, spearheaded by Oklo and backed by up to $1.68 billion in investment, is slated for development in Oak Ridge, promising over 800 new jobs and a significant boost to the region’s energy innovation sector.The project, announced Thursday, marks a pivotal step toward domestic nuclear fuel recycling and a potential long-term energy solution for the United States.
This facility represents the first phase of a larger initiative to process used nuclear fuel accumulated over six decades from America’s light water reactor fleet-currently totaling 94,000 metric tons. According to Oklo, this existing inventory holds the energy equivalent of 1.3 trillion barrels of oil, enough to power the nation for over 150 years. The project aims to unlock this resource through innovative recycling processes, reducing reliance on traditional fuel sources and bolstering national energy security.
U.S. Representative chuck Fleischmann (R-Ooltewah) joined U.S. senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty in Oak Ridge to celebrate the announcement. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is collaborating with Oklo to explore opportunities for advancing next-generation nuclear power and fuel recycling technologies.
“This announcement reinforces the region’s role as a hub for energy innovation and economic growth,” stated the TVA in a press release.
The new facility will recycle used nuclear fuel, creating a pathway to utilize a vast, previously untapped energy resource. Further details about the project are available on Oklo’s website.
