en.Wedoany.com Reported - Elementl Power, an independent developer of utility-scale nuclear power projects in the United States, has signed an early engineering agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) to build a 1.5 GWe project in Meigs County, southeastern Ohio, utilizing the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR).
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems. Its design and licensing basis leverage the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and the licensed GNF2 fuel design. GVH's first BWRX-300 is under construction at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site in Canada, with completion expected in 2030. The project is planned to consist of five BWRX-300 units.
Elementl has agreed to purchase a 700-acre site on the Ohio River in Letart Township from American Municipal Power (AMP) for an undisclosed price. Elementl Power is currently unable to discuss specifics of its commercial arrangements. AMP originally acquired the land to develop a 960 MWe coal-fired power plant, but canceled the plan in 2009 due to rising cost expectations.
The project is fully privately financed and will not be funded through electricity user rates or state utilities. Project costs have not been disclosed but are estimated between $15 billion and $18 billion. According to Elementl, the financial risk of construction delays or cost overruns will be borne entirely by Elementl and its private industrial buyers. By adopting a build-transfer and co-development framework, Elementl shields its buyers from early-stage development risks.
Site construction and first nuclear concrete pour for Unit 1 are planned to begin in 2030, with target completion and first power to the grid expected in 2034, pending federal licensing. Before groundbreaking, the facility must obtain stringent regulatory approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Ohio Power Siting Board.
Elementl recently filed an application with PJM Interconnection to connect the first 600 MWe of output from the site to the regional transmission system. PJM Interconnection is the largest regional transmission organization (RTO) in the United States, operating the grid and wholesale electricity market covering 13 northeastern and midwestern states and the District of Columbia.
Chris Colbert, Chairman and CEO of Elementl, stated that the company is committed to building partnerships to accelerate the financing and delivery of reliable, clean, around-the-clock nuclear power, and is working closely with Letart Township, Meigs County, Ohio, and the broader region. He noted that GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy is a proven global leader in nuclear technology and expressed pleasure in collaborating to deploy the BWRX-300 reactor. Colbert pointed out that nuclear projects are vital economic pillars for communities, and southeastern Ohio, with its proud industrial heritage, provides the foundation and workforce needed for a project of this scale.
Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova, expressed enthusiasm for supporting Elementl Power in advancing the project and working with customers taking concrete steps to bring new nuclear power into commercial operation. He believes nuclear energy will play a significant role in the future energy mix, and projects like this will strengthen the foundation of U.S. long-term energy security, economic growth, and reliable power generation.
Elementl Power is an independent, privately held advanced nuclear development company founded in 2023. Rather than inventing new reactor hardware, the company acts as an independent developer responsible for identifying optimal sites, securing private financing, navigating complex regulatory licensing processes, and collaborating with proven technology suppliers to execute construction. Chairman and CEO Chris Colbert previously served as a senior executive at NuScale Power, and co-founder Ryan G. Sroka worked at Goldman Sachs and Breakwater North. Founded by U.S. Navy nuclear engineers and energy finance professionals, the company was initially established in South Carolina, is incorporated in New Castle, Delaware, and operates projects nationwide.
Elementl is backed by Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a sustainable energy investment firm. EIP manages over $4.5 billion in assets across seven active funds, with capital supported by an ecosystem of over 80 strategic corporate partners and limited partners, including some of the world's largest electric utilities, oil and gas majors, technology hyperscalers, and real estate companies.
In May 2025, Google partnered with Elementl Power, providing early-stage development capital. The initial agreement requires Elementl to review and prepare three major U.S. sites, each planned to have at least 600 MWe of capacity, to meet Google's around-the-clock baseload artificial intelligence (AI) and data center demands. Elementl uses the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's proprietary OR-SAGE data tool to evaluate geographic locations based on the NRC's stringent exclusionary and environmental rules.
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