Tennessee has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as one of five finalists to host a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, placing Roane County and the Oak Ridge Corridor at the forefront of a major federal push to modernize the nation’s nuclear fuel supply chain.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed Memorandums of Understanding with Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho, narrowing down a competitive field of 28 applications from 26 states.

The proposed campuses are designed to manage the entire nuclear fuel lifecycle—including enrichment, fuel fabrication, reprocessing, and final disposition—while potentially hosting advanced reactor deployments, manufacturing hubs, and data centers. According to the DOE, a single campus could drive up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate $10 billion in local and state tax revenue, and create nearly 25,000 jobs.

Tennessee’s winning bid relies heavily on the Oak Ridge Corridor’s existing footprint, which includes the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Clinch River Nuclear Site, where the Tennessee Valley Authority is working to deploy the nation’s first commercial small modular reactor. The state is already home to more than 230 nuclear lifecycle companies.

“Roane County has helped power America’s nuclear story since the Manhattan Project, and we are proud to stand ready once again,” said Roane County Executive Wade Creswell, highlighting the joint economic development efforts between Roane County, Anderson County, and the City of Oak Ridge.

States selecting to move forward will negotiate formal hosting agreements with the DOE as the selection process continues.