ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Appalachian Power (AEP) is seeking grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) to support Virginia with advanced nuclear site exploration to process two potential Small Modular Reactor (SMR) sites.
Appalachian Power has announced previously that it was beginning the ESP process for the Joshua Falls company-owned property in Campbell County Virginia.
Through the funding partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will be seeking $50 million to start the early stages of SMR development. This will be at the Rockport Plant site.
If I&M is awarded the funds, it will start conducting the ESP process as well as a Preliminary Safety Analysis for a protection construction permit. This will include collecting site information and deployment planning. The SMR unit will be able to generate 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
SMRs offer tremendous potential to provide safe, reliable, and clean energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The relatively small footprint allows SMRs to be constructed in areas that were not previously feasible for nuclear energy generation and can be scaled to match the energy needs of the state. A single SMR unit can generate up to 500 MW of clean energy, depending on the design of the unit.
(Photo Credit: Idaho National Laboratory, https://inl.gov/trending-topics/small-modular-reactors/)
Both grant applications are under the USDOE’s Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Program. This program will offer a total of $900 million in grants.
“We are excited that Indiana Michigan Power is exploring SMR technology and is looking at its Rockport generation site in Spencer County as its home,” said Indiana State Representative Steve Bartels and Indiana State Senator Daryl Schmitt in a joint statement. “An SMR here would mean hundreds of great jobs for the area, provide local fiscal support to enhance the quality of life, and local services, and create educational opportunities for our young people to help them build a career in energy production.”
In 2024, the Indiana Office of Energy Development also issued a siting report that was conducted by Perdue University to identify Rockport as a suitable site.
“The flexibility of our generation portfolio has allowed us to provide reliable, affordable power to our customers,” said Steve Baker, I&M President, and Chief Operating Officer. “Our fleet includes reliable baseload generation from coal and the Cook Nuclear Plant, as well as renewable energy from wind and solar. We’re excited that the next generation of nuclear technology could be a part of I&M’s future.”
Since 1975 I&M has been operating at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. The facility has been a reliable power source, but the company is looking to expand and meet the near-term energy needs of customers.
In November of 2024, Appalachian Power announced its exploration of the Joshua Falls site to see if it was suitable for an SMR. On January 17, 2025, Appalachian Power submitted a proposal for a grant of $35 million to help offset the work that is necessary for the ESP.
In December 2024, Virginia Appalachian Power held a meeting where over 100 individuals to keep the public informed as the project progresses.
“Appalachian Power has heard tremendous support for our SMR proposal, and we’re listening to, and working with, those who have concerns,” said Aaron Walker, Appalachian Power President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are at the beginning of a long and exciting journey. Our state and local leaders understand how SMRs can benefit our customers, and we are grateful for their support.”
AEP’s users of an SMR will be at least a decade away to ensure the safety and reliability of the facilities. SMRs are the future energy sources therefore I&M and Appalachian Power are working with state regulators, stakeholders, and leaders to meet the needs of energy and energy policy goals.
To learn more about Appalachian Power’s SMR visit appalachianpower.com/smr
More information about SMRs can be found here.