Chairman Fleischmann Applauds NRC's Approval for Hermes 2 Reactor Construction in Oak Ridge

Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant will become the first Gen IV nuclear reactors to generate electricity in the United States

Chattanooga, TN – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, expressed his strong support for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) recent approval for Kairos Power to proceed with the construction of the Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge at the Heritage Center Industrial Park. As Chairman, Congressman Fleischmann has been a key proponent of expanding civil nuclear energy, both in Tennessee and across the nation. Under his leadership, significant growth and investment in advanced nuclear technologies are propelling America toward a more energy-secure future.

"I congratulate Kairos Power on their approval to build Hermes 2 at Oak Ridge’s Heritage Industrial Park. I also congratulate the NRC for their efficient approval of the construction permits to make this milestone for new nuclear a reality. The construction of two Gen IV advanced molten salt-cooled reactors, the first to produce electricity anywhere in the United States, is a major step towards expanding clean, reliable, affordable, and abundant nuclear power nationwide and creating America’s New Nuclear Future."

"Additionally, the Hermes 2 reactors will be constructed on land in Oak Ridge that had been previously contaminated during the Manhattan Project and the Cold War. This land has been meticulously cleaned by the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management program and United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR), an effort I have spearheaded as Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations. What was once unusable due to legacy contamination is now a site for new civil nuclear technologies, representing a significant achievement in both environmental remediation and technological innovation. This site will now host the next generation of clean energy development, boosting our economy while preserving our environmental heritage."

"As the leading nuclear energy advocate in Congress, I will continue to push for the expansion of nuclear energy across the country to meet both America's and the world’s growing demand for reliable, clean power. Nuclear energy is affordable, abundant, and reliable—the key to fueling the 21st century and beyond. For America to achieve energy independence, and to reduce reliance on adversaries like Communist China, we need to expand our electricity generation capacity, with nuclear energy at the foundation. The expansion of new nuclear capabilities in Oak Ridge and throughout East Tennessee will secure our nation’s long-term energy independence, national security, and economic prosperity for generations to come."