TVA Clinch River Project Vice President Greg Boerschig spoke to over 100 guests about TVA’s plan to shape the future of clean and sustainable energy through advanced nuclear projects.
Contact: Brittany Crocker, [email protected], 865.329.0553
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (July 14, 2023) – The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) and the East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC) hosted a virtual Lunch and Learn of more than 100 attendees with the Tennessee Valley Authority on Thursday, July 13.
The webinar featured Greg Boerschig, TVA Vice President of the Clinch River Project. He spoke about TVA’s plan to build a small modular reactor and how advanced nuclear reactors fit into TVA’s decarbonization strategy.
“Small modular reactors – like all nuclear plants – have zero carbon emissions, which makes them good for decarbonization strategy,” Boerschig said. “They add high reliability, availability, and capacity to a grid of the future.”
TVA was one of the first utilities in the United States to commit to developing an advanced reactor fleet.
TAEBC champions advanced energy innovation as a means to economic development and job creation. One way TAEBC accomplishes this mission is by supporting TVA and local power companies in becoming energy companies of the future. Hosting periodic Lunch and Learns with TVA is a facet of this strategy.
“Our utility landscape has shifted so dramatically, and there are so many exciting innovations that can make our power systems more efficient, more reliable and cleaner,” said Cortney Piper, Executive Director of TAEBC. “We share information about the latest technologies and policies to sustain Tennessee’s national leadership in advanced energy.”
The Clinch River Project is a step toward Gov. Bill Lee’s vision for Tennessee to lead the nation in advanced nuclear energy and create high-quality job opportunities for Tennesseeans.
“Tennessee is ready-made to lead America’s energy independence and drive continued economic growth with safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy for the future,” Gov. Lee said in May when he signed an executive order creating the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council.
Boerschig said TVA expects the Clinch River Project and future small modular reactor projects will create construction jobs, as well as permanent plant operation jobs.
“TVA has stated publicly that if we build one small modular reactor, we’ll build many,” he said, adding later that TVA is now evaluating other potential sites for small modular reactors.
Boerschig will also speak at ETEC’s Nuclear Opportunities Workshop (NOW), which begins August 1 in Oak Ridge.
ETEC president and Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council member Tracy Boatner said the workshop will host TVA, advanced energy companies and Department of Energy contractors to showcase industry developments, business opportunities and the latest advancements in nuclear research and technology.
Boatner said the NOW conference is one way ETEC fulfills its mission to create connections that catalyze regional growth.
You can view the slides here, or a link to the full recording is available here. To stay engaged with TAEBC, sign up for the TAEBC newsletter and event notices here and become a member today.
You can register for the NOW conference on ETEC’s website.