Updates
Every dated evidence event on record, newest first. Proof events and capital events stay in separate lanes, and each entry links the document behind it.
Evidence ledger
67 dated events. A capacity claim is a state, not an event; the race board carries those.
2026-08
- 2026-08-06Oklo · Criticality
Groves reached first criticality in Caldwell County, Texas, the first Reactor Pilot Program reactor to do so on private land and a greenfield site, under a year from groundbreaking · A zero-power critical assembly. DOE's environmental determination puts its maximum power at 100 watts, and Oklo states it does not generate electricity for the grid. Contributes 0 MWe.
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-08Valar Atomics · Venture equity
$1B Series B at a $6B valuation · Sequoia Capital (lead)
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-08Valar Atomics · Venture debt
$200M credit facility, announced alongside the Series B · Erebor Bank (lead), J.P. Morgan, Crescent Cove, Hercules Capital
Company-reported source ↗
2026-07
- 2026-07-04Aalo Atomics · Criticality
Critical Test Reactor reached initial criticality at INL, the fourth and last before the July 4 goal and the first new reactor built at INL in 50 years · Zero-power test reactor. Contributes 0 MWe.
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-07-01Deployable Energy · Criticality
Unity reached initial criticality at the National Reactor Innovation Center, INL, about 150 days from kickoff · Demonstration reactor. Contributes 0 MWe.
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Oklo · Permit / authorization
DOE issued startup authorization for the Groves isotope test reactor, clearing fuel load and first criticality
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Radiant Industries · Fuel milestone
First TRISO fuel shipment received at the DOME facility, INL; criticality not confirmed as of 2026-08-05
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Deep Fission · Test program
An unfuelled prototype reactor canister arrived at the Parsons, Kansas site for installation testing
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Antares Nuclear · Program selection / agreement
One of three finalists competing for Air Force installation assignments in Colorado and Montana; no award made
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Holtec International · Offering filed
Public S-1 filed; terms not priced · Nasdaq, targeting ticker HNUC
Verified source ↗ - 2026-07Westinghouse · Offering filed
Confidential draft S-1 filed; share count, price and venue not disclosed · Not disclosed
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Antares Nuclear · Venture equity
$370M equity within a $470M Series C · Paradigm and Caffeinated Capital
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-07Antares Nuclear · Venture debt
$100M debt within the same $470M Series C · Not disclosed
Press-reported source ↗
2026-06
- 2026-06-18Valar Atomics · Criticality
Ward 250 reached fuelled criticality in Emery County, Utah, the only pilot reactor built outside a national laboratory · Ran at 100 kWt, a zero-power demonstration. Contributes 0 MWe.
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-06-04Antares Nuclear · Criticality
Mark-0 reached initial criticality at Idaho National Laboratory, the first of the DOE pilot cohort · Zero-power demonstrator. Contributes 0 MWe.
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-06Oklo · Permit / authorization
DOE issued a categorical exclusion determination for Groves-1, authorizing it to take possession of nuclear fuel and operate the reactor in Caldwell County, Texas · Describes a zero-power critical assembly with a maximum power level of 100 watts. Contributes 0 MWe.
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-06Holtec International · Design proof (non-U.S.)
Holtec and EDF submitted a joint proposal for up to four SMR-300 units at Cottam, England · UK proposal. Contributes 0 MWe to the U.S. race.
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-06Westinghouse · Federal loan
$17.5B conditional commitment, scoped to AP1000 long-lead items only · EXIM and DOE Office of Energy Dominance Financing
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-06Deep Fission · IPO / listing
$40M gross at $16/share, scaled back from a ~$156M roadshow target · Nasdaq (FISN)
Press-reported source ↗
2026-05
- 2026-05Kairos Power · Permit / authorization
NRC extended the Hermes 1 construction-completion deadline from 2026-12-31 to 2029-04-30
Verified source ↗ - 2026-05Last Energy · Permit / authorization
DOE approved the PWR-5 preliminary documented safety analysis at Texas A&M-RELLIS; criticality not confirmed as of 2026-08-05
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-05NANO Nuclear Energy · Permit / authorization
NRC formally accepted the KRONOS construction-permit application for full review, an estimated 12-month clock
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-05Oklo · Public offering
Up to $1B at-the-market program, replacing a prior program that placed ~$1.5B gross · Public markets
Press-reported source ↗
2026-04
- 2026-04TerraPower · Construction start
Nuclear construction began at Kemmerer with about 1,600 workers mobilized
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-04Kairos Power · Construction start
Groundbreaking at Hermes 2, the first power-producing Gen IV reactor to hold an NRC construction permit
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-04Valar Atomics · Permit / authorization
DOE approved the final documented safety analysis for Ward 250, an expedited pathway that bypassed NRC licensing for this test unit
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-04Deployable Energy · Program selection / agreement
Named one of the first four developers in DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-04X-energy · IPO / listing
~$1.018B gross at $23.00/share · Nasdaq Global Select Market
Press-reported source ↗
2026-03
- 2026-03TerraPower · Permit / authorization
NRC issued construction permit CPAR-1, the first for a commercial-scale Gen IV reactor and the first non-light-water permit in over 40 years
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-03GE Vernova Hitachi · Design proof (non-U.S.)
Shaft excavation completed for the first BWRX-300 at Darlington, Ontario · Canadian unit. Contributes 0 MWe to the U.S. race.
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-03NANO Nuclear Energy · Permit / authorization
The University of Illinois, with NANO Nuclear, submitted a construction-permit application to the NRC for a KRONOS reactor on its campus · A non-power research reactor. Contributes 0 MWe.
Institution-reported source ↗ - 2026-03Valar Atomics · Venture equity
$340M equity within a $450M round at a $2B valuation · Not disclosed
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-03Valar Atomics · Venture debt
$110M debt within the same $450M round · Not disclosed
Press-reported source ↗
2026-02
- 2026-02Radiant Industries · Permit / authorization
DOE approved the Kaleidos preliminary documented safety analysis for the DOME test
Company-reported source ↗ - 2026-02X-energy · Permit / authorization
NRC issued TRISO-X a 40-year special nuclear material license for commercial HALEU fuel manufacture
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-02NuScale Power · Design proof (non-U.S.)
RoPower took a final investment decision for a 462 MWe six-module plant at Doicești, Romania · Romanian project. Contributes 0 MWe to the U.S. race.
Press-reported source ↗ - 2026-02Westinghouse · Program selection / agreement
DOE conditionally selected Westinghouse for the first fuelled microreactor experiments at the DOME test bed
Government-reported source ↗ - 2026-02
2026-01
- 2026-01Terrestrial Energy · Program selection / agreement
Executed a DOE Other Transaction Agreement for Project TETRA, a pilot IMSR; it did not reach the July 4 2026 criticality goal
Company-reported source ↗
2025-12
- 2025-12Oklo · Test program
Fast-spectrum plutonium criticality experiment with Los Alamos National Laboratory · Research collaboration, not a licensed power reactor. Contributes 0 MWe.
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-12Holtec International · Federal award
$400M Tier 1 milestone-based cost share · DOE Gen III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-12GE Vernova Hitachi · Federal award
Up to $400M Tier 1 award to TVA for Clinch River · DOE Gen III+ SMR Pathway to Deployment
Press-reported source ↗ - 2025-12Radiant Industries · Venture equity
$300M+ Series D at a valuation above $1.8B · Draper Associates and Boost VC
Press-reported source ↗ - 2025-12Antares Nuclear · Venture equity
$71M equity within a $96M Series B · Shine Capital
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-12Antares Nuclear · Venture debt
$25M debt within the same $96M Series B · Not disclosed
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-12
2025-11
- 2025-11X-energy · Venture equity
$700M Series D · Jane Street (lead), ARK Invest, Galvanize, Point72
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-11
2025-10
- 2025-10Terrestrial Energy · IPO / listing
Over $292M gross including a $50M PIPE · HCM II Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq)
Press-reported source ↗
2025-09
- 2025-09Oklo · Construction start
Groundbreaking on the first Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory, under the DOE Reactor Pilot Program
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-09Oklo · Permit / authorization
DOE approved the conceptual design for the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at INL, which will feed the first Aurora core
Government-reported source ↗ - 2025-09Terrestrial Energy · Permit / authorization
NRC approved the IMSR principal design criteria, including its inherent power-control mechanism
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-09Aalo Atomics · Program selection / agreement
Signed what Aalo describes as the first U.S. commercial contract for delivery of enriched uranium to a reactor company
Company-reported source ↗ - 2025-09NANO Nuclear Energy · Federal award
~$1.25M AFWERX Direct-to-Phase-II contract, a feasibility study rather than a unit order · U.S. Air Force
Company-reported source ↗
2025-08
- 2025-08Aalo Atomics · Venture equity
$100M Series B · Valor Equity Partners (lead), NRG Energy, Hitachi Ventures
Company-reported source ↗
2025-06
- 2025-06TerraPower · Venture equity
$650M round · NVentures (NVIDIA), Bill Gates, HD Hyundai
Company-reported source ↗
2025-05
- 2025-05NuScale Power · Permit / authorization
NRC issued a standard design approval for the uprated 77 MWe design, the only approved U.S. SMR design
Government-reported source ↗ - 2025-05
2025-02
- 2025-02X-energy · Venture equity
$700M Series C-1 · Segra Capital, Jane Street, Ares Management
Company-reported source ↗
2024-09
- 2024-09BWXT · Construction start
The Department of Defense broke ground at INL for the Project Pele prototype site
Government-reported source ↗ - 2024-09Holtec International · Federal loan
$1.52B loan guarantee for the existing 800 MW Palisades reactor, not the new units; $784.8M advanced as of 2026-03-31 · DOE Loan Programs Office
Company-reported source ↗
2024-08
- 2024-08Last Energy · Venture equity
$40M Series B · Gigafund and the Autodesk Foundation
Press-reported source ↗
2024-05
- 2024-05Oklo · IPO / listing
Up to $645M cash from the combination, including a $300M PIPE · AltC Acquisition Corp (NYSE)
Press-reported source ↗
2024-02
- 2024-02Kairos Power · Cost share
Up to $303M of a $629M project, milestone-based · DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
Press-reported source ↗
2022-08
- 2022-08TerraPower · Venture equity
$750M minimum equity raise · SK Inc. and SK Innovation
Company-reported source ↗
2022-05
- 2022-05NuScale Power · IPO / listing
~$380M proceeds including a $235M PIPE · Spring Valley Acquisition Corp (NYSE)
Company-reported source ↗
2020-12
- 2020-12BWXT · Cost share
Share of a $30M DOE risk-reduction award split across five companies · DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
Press-reported source ↗
No date on record
The source behind each of these states no date. A date is never guessed here.
- UndatedWestinghouse · Design proof (non-U.S.)
The Saskatchewan Research Council is the first commercial eVinci customer, planning a pilot by 2029 · Canadian customer. Contributes 0 MWe to the U.S. race.
Press-reported source ↗ - UndatedLast Energy · Design proof (non-U.S.)
Signed power purchase agreements for 34 units, 680 MW, with four industrial partners in Poland and the UK · Non-U.S. capacity. Contributes 0 MWe to the U.S. race.
Press-reported source ↗ - UndatedBWXT · Fuel milestone
Delivered a full core of TRISO fuel for the Project Pele microreactor; criticality not confirmed as of 2026-08-05
Company-reported source ↗ - UndatedTerraPower · Cost share
Up to $2B DOE ceiling, 50% of project costs · DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
Company-reported source ↗ - UndatedDeployable Energy · Venture equity
~$1.7M raised to date alongside substantial founder self-funding · Blue Corridor Ventures, Capital Factory, Nucleation Capital
Press-reported source ↗
Every project’s next gate
All 28 tracked projects, closest to operation first, each with its next required milestone and the entity that owns it.
- Vogtle Units 3 & 4Stage 8 · Replication
Translate the completed two-unit delivery into repeat AP1000 orders with demonstrated cost and schedule learning.
Owner · Westinghouse, U.S. utilities, owners, and suppliers - Aalo Critical Test ReactorStage 7 · Operational
Build, license, fuel, and operate the separate 10 MWe Project Ascension reactor before claiming power deployment.
Owner · Aalo Atomics, DOE, and NRC - Unity critical experimentStage 7 · Operational
Translate the experiment into a licensed power design, customer project, fuel plan, and repeatable commercial delivery process.
Owner · Deployable Energy, DOE, and NRC - Ward 250 critical experimentStage 7 · Operational
Translate test results into a powered design, licensing basis, customer project, and repeatable delivery plan.
Owner · Valar Atomics - Antares R1 Mark-0Stage 7 · Operational
Complete further testing and establish the NRC licensing and customer pathway for a power-producing reactor.
Owner · Antares Nuclear - Natrium · Kemmerer Unit 1Stage 6 · Physical
Submit and secure the separate NRC operating license before fuel loading or operation.
Owner · TerraPower and NRC - Hermes 2Stage 6 · Physical
Complete nuclear construction, request operating licenses, then load fuel and test.
Owner · Kairos Power and NRC - Molten Chloride Reactor ExperimentStage 6 · Physical
Complete fuel production, install the experiment in LOTUS, obtain authorization, and begin the planned test campaign.
Owner · INL, Southern Company, TerraPower, and DOE - Project PeleStage 6 · Physical
Deliver the reactor module, complete safety review, assemble, fuel, and begin testing.
Owner · DoD, BWXT, and DOE Idaho Operations - Crane Clean Energy Center restartStage 5 · Ready
Complete NRC licensing actions, restore plant systems, pass restart inspections, and receive approval to resume power operations.
Owner · Constellation Energy and NRC - New York Gen III+ SMR sitingStage 4 · Contractual
Name the site and design, execute the award, and submit a complete NRC early site permit application.
Owner · Constellation SMR Development and DOE - Nebraska Gen III+ SMR sitingStage 4 · Contractual
Name the site and design, execute the award, and submit a complete NRC early site permit application.
Owner · Nebraska Public Power District and DOE - Long Mott · Xe-100Stage 3 · Development
Complete the safety review and obtain a construction permit; operation requires a later license.
Owner · NRC and Long Mott Energy - UIUC · KRONOS MMRStage 3 · Development
Pass NRC acceptance and technical review, then obtain a construction permit.
Owner · University of Illinois, NANO Nuclear Energy, and NRC - Pioneer Units 1 & 2 · SMR-300Stage 3 · Development
Obtain the limited-work authorization and complete the remaining construction-permit application and reviews.
Owner · Palisades SMR and NRC - Belews Creek early site permitStage 3 · Development
Complete NRC safety and environmental reviews and obtain the early site permit.
Owner · Duke Energy and NRC - Groves pilot reactorStage 3 · Development
Complete the DOE safety basis, authorization, construction, and fuel-readiness gates before operation.
Owner · Atomic Alchemy and DOE Idaho Operations - Deep Fission DBR pilotStage 3 · Development
Disclose and authorize a site, complete the safety basis, and demonstrate construction and fuel readiness.
Owner · Deep Fission and DOE Idaho Operations - PWR-5 pilot reactorStage 3 · Development
Complete site authorization, safety analysis, construction, and operating readiness under DOE oversight.
Owner · Last Energy and DOE Idaho Operations - Aurora pilot reactorStage 3 · Development
Complete DOE authorization, site work, construction, fuel readiness, and critical testing.
Owner · Oklo and DOE Idaho Operations - Pluto pilot reactorStage 3 · Development
Complete DOE authorization, fuel-facility integration, construction, and critical-test readiness.
Owner · Oklo and DOE Idaho Operations - Natura pilot · ACUStage 3 · Development
Complete the DOE authorization basis, site work, construction, fuel loading, and operating readiness.
Owner · Natura Resources, ACU, and DOE Idaho Operations - Kaleidos + RiPPer pilotStage 3 · Development
Complete DOE authorization and readiness gates for construction, fuel loading, and critical testing.
Owner · Radiant Industries and DOE Idaho Operations - TETRA-1 pilot reactorStage 3 · Development
Complete DOE authorization, site work, fuel preparation, construction, and critical-test readiness.
Owner · Terrestrial Energy and DOE Idaho Operations - Kaleidos · DOME testStage 3 · Development
Satisfy readiness gates, complete authorization, install the experiment, and conduct testing.
Owner · Radiant, NRIC, and DOE - Clinch River · BWRX-300Stage 3 · Development
Complete NRC safety review and obtain the construction permit before nuclear construction.
Owner · TVA and NRC - eVinci DOME experimentStage 3 · Development
Complete DOE authorization, experiment fabrication, fuel readiness, and DOME scheduling.
Owner · Westinghouse, NRIC, and DOE - RELLIS advanced-reactor siteStage 2 · Preliminary
Select the site envelope and reactor assumptions, then submit a complete early site permit application.
Owner · Texas A&M University System and NRC
Follow the evidence
The feed carries the ledger above. Corrections with a source are welcome.