$280M Nuclear Boost in Oak Ridge Could Power Earth and Mars, Create 175 Jobs

Radiant Industries' Expansion to Oak Ridge

A California-based nuclear startup with roots in space exploration is making a significant move to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Radiant Industries, which has its origins in space exploration, is set to invest $280 million in East Tennessee. The company aims to be the first to bring a portable nuclear microreactor to the private market in the U.S., potentially creating 175 jobs in the process.

On October 13, the announcement that Radiant will establish a factory for its Kaleidos microreactors in Oak Ridge added to a growing list of commitments to nuclear development in the region. Radiant is the second new nuclear company in as many months to pivot to the Secret City.

The factory, named R50 by Radiant executives, plans to produce up to 50 microreactors per year. These microreactors could serve as emissions-free replacements for smaller-scale power producers like industrial diesel generators. The company hopes to make progress in the coming months.

Federal Government's Interest in Radiant

The federal government has taken an interest in Radiant. In April, the U.S. Department of Energy selected Radiant to receive high-enriched low-assay uranium fuel needed for a reactor test, which the company reported it is set to complete in spring 2026 at Idaho National Laboratory. In August, the energy department also named Radiant Industries as one of 10 other companies to participate in a nuclear reactor pilot program designed to speed up development.

Radiant also signed a recent agreement with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force for a microreactor. In return for its planned investment, Radiant is set to receive a 50%, $22.7 million break on its taxes over a 15-year period, according to public records. It will operate on land in the Heritage Center Industrial Park and pay $20,000 for every acre it buys, according to documents from the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board. Radiant is also interested in additional Oak Ridge property that's owned by the federal government.

Jobs and Economic Impact

The jobs Radiant will provide in East Tennessee should pay 150% of per capita income on average, according to Oak Ridge City Manager Randy Hemann. This economic boost is part of a broader transformation for Oak Ridge, which is seen as a return to form for the city, known for its history in nuclear research.

Radiant's Vision for Microreactors

Radiant’s microreactors are planned to power activities close to home, offering backup energy to businesses like rural hospitals and emergency service providers during disasters. They could be installed in remote areas of Alaska, according to documents from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Company executives say the technology could one day help humanity take to life among the stars.

Radiant was established by former SpaceX engineers Douglas Bernauer and Bob Urberger. The idea for the company began with an interest in powering life on Mars. Bernauer said in a blog post on the company’s site that nuclear power could help humanity become multiplanetary in the long term and transform life on Earth right now.

Market Strategy and Technology

Radiant announced it had raised $165 million for the microreactor earlier this year. Its total money raised is roughly $250 million, said Bernauer, who worked for other Elon Musk-owned companies before starting his own.

Kaleidos microreactors will be designed to produce about 1 megawatt of energy, making them much less powerful than traditional nuclear reactors and putting them on par with some industrial diesel generators. The microreactors, which would use meltdown-proof TRISO fuel, are intended to be mass produced and cut emissions linked to disease and environmental degradation. They should fit inside a shipping container and could work independently from the electrical grid.

Countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, and South Korea were among the leading users of diesel generators as of 2019, according to information from Allied Market Research. The U.S. is the target market for the moment, Radiant Chief Operating Officer Tori Shivanandan told Knox News.

Oak Ridge's Nuclear Scene

For Oak Ridge officials, the Radiant announcement is part of both a larger transformation and a return to form. Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch quoted President John F. Kennedy’s "We Go to the Moon" speech in celebrating Radiant’s arrival. He emphasized the urgency of establishing energy independence, free from Russian and Chinese influence, and the importance of safe, reliable, and abundant nuclear energy.

Radiant’s announcement comes as both state and local governments make their case for Tennessee to serve as a national nuclear hub. Tennessee has a long history as a nuclear mover, and Oak Ridge famously served as a Manhattan Project site in the 1940s. The state has bolstered its push for nuclear dominance in recent years with the creation of a nuclear advisory council and a dedicated nuclear fund.

Radiant will receive an award from the fund, and the amount should be made public within 30 days, said Stuart McWhorter, commissioner of economic and community development for the state. The fund most recently announced a $13 million award to Oklo, which said in September it's planning to bring a $1.7 billion investment and more than 800 jobs to East Tennessee.

Future of Nuclear Energy in Tennessee

Oak Ridge’s lengthy nuclear history has also produced extensive cleanup efforts. The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and its contractor, United Cleanup of Oak Ridge, cleared the site of the future R50 factory. UCOR President Ken Rueter said in a statement that Radiant joins Kairos Power, Triso-X, Orano USA, Oklo, and dozens of next-gen nuclear companies that have announced $7 billion+ in construction and around 2,000 new jobs in the Oak Ridge Corridor.

Tennessee's place in the global nuclear conversation is 'about momentum,' said Tori Shivanandan during the announcement. The Tennessee move means earlier plans to set Radiant’s first microreactor factory in Wyoming have been canceled. Those plans were met with regulatory roadblocks, according to reporting from Oil City News.

Progress on nuclear projects – in Tennessee and throughout the U.S. – follows a prolonged period of stagnation. Nuclear power is now a rare point of bipartisan agreement at the federal level, and both the Biden administration and the Trump administration have prioritized its development.

“It’s about momentum,” said state Sen. Ken Yager, who represents Roane County in the state legislature. Keeping that going means meeting the state’s infrastructure needs, Gov. Bill Lee told Knox News.

“I think we watch as this unfolds. We make sure that the infrastructure’s in place,” Lee said. “We are continuously investing in infrastructure − that being workforce and workforce development.”