NASHVILLE, TN – State Senator Shane Reeves of Murfreesboro brought a distinctly local presence to a statewide conversation this week as the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee received a detailed update on Tennessee’s fast‑advancing nuclear energy strategy. Reeves, who chairs the committee, has become one of the most visible Rutherford County leaders shaping the state’s long‑term energy direction.
During Wednesday’s (1/21/2026) meeting in Nashville, officials from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation walked lawmakers through the progress of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council. Governor Bill Lee created the Council in 2023 to keep Tennessee at the forefront of nuclear innovation, and Reeves has been one of its strongest champions.
Reeves told the committee that the Council’s work is already paying off, pointing to Tennessee’s mix of research institutions, TVA assets, and a business climate that attracts advanced‑energy companies. He described the state as uniquely positioned to lead the next era of nuclear development, noting that the Council has helped “propel our state to the forefront of the industry while creating high‑quality jobs and securing our energy future.” For residents back home in Murfreesboro and across Rutherford County, Reeves emphasized that these efforts translate into workforce opportunities and long‑term economic stability.
The update highlighted Tennessee’s growing list of firsts, including the nation’s first regulatory framework for commercial nuclear fusion and TVA’s 2025 milestone as the first U.S. utility to apply for a small modular reactor construction permit. The Council is also shaping a statewide workforce plan aimed at preparing Tennesseans—from high school students to mid‑career workers—for jobs in the nuclear supply chain.
State investments guided by the Council’s recommendations now total more than $90 million, supporting everything from the Clinch River SMR project to university research and vocational training tied to nuclear career pathways.
Today, Tennessee is home to more than 229 nuclear‑related companies operating at over 350 locations. The American Nuclear Society recently called the state “the epicenter” of U.S. nuclear energy—a distinction Reeves says reflects both statewide leadership and the contributions of communities like Rutherford County.
