Oak Ridge Is Becoming America's Nuclear Fuel Hub. What That Means for Contractors Here.
A 214,000-square-foot facility is going up in Oak Ridge that will be the first of its kind in the United States. If you work in construction in East Tennessee, or own property anywhere near it, it is worth understanding what is actually happening.
What Is Being Built
TRISO-X TX-1 is an advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility at X-energy's Horizon Center campus in Oak Ridge. When complete it is expected to be the first commercial facility in the United States dedicated to fabricating TRISO fuel for advanced reactors — and the first Category 2 Fuel Fabrication Facility licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The numbers, from X-energy's own filings and announcements:
- 214,812 square feet
- Estimated output of 5 metric tons of uranium per year — roughly 700,000 TRISO pebbles, enough fuel for up to 11 Xe-100 reactors
- Clark Construction Group as general contractor, on a $48.2 million award for the building construction phase
- Designed by Sargent & Lundy
- Part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, with 50/50 cost sharing
- Granted an approximately $150 million tax credit by DOE in recognition of its first-of-a-kind status
Where the Project Stands
In August 2026, TRISO-X announced the start of the next phase of construction — auxiliary buildings, interior build-out and equipment installation. Vertical construction of the shell has been progressing on schedule, with support building and interior work scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
Alongside that, the company has extended its cooperative research agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, acquired an additional 70 acres at the Horizon Center campus, and received a Tennessee economic development grant supporting expansion of its fuel manufacturing operations.
The fuel produced here is intended for X-energy's Xe-100 reactor, with a first commercial deployment planned in partnership with Dow at their Seadrift, Texas site. X-energy is also advancing a second project with Energy Northwest and Amazon, part of a stated strategy to bring more than five gigawatts of new power projects online by 2039.
Why This Matters Locally
Oak Ridge has been a nuclear town since the 1940s. What is different now is that it is becoming a manufacturing hub rather than only a research one — and manufacturing means sustained construction, expanded campuses and a long tail of supporting work.
Seventy additional acres at Horizon Center is not a one-off building. It is a campus being built out over years.
For contractors and subcontractors across Anderson and Roane counties, that means a pipeline of work with a specific characteristic: the prequalification bar is high.
What Federal-Adjacent Work Actually Requires
This is the part that is worth understanding whether or not you ever bid a nuclear site, because the same standards flow down through general contractors on any serious commercial project.
License classification. Tennessee caps most contractors at a monetary limit — a dollar ceiling on the size of project they may legally bid. An Unlimited classification carries no cap. On a project of this scale, a limited license is not a paperwork inconvenience; it is disqualifying.
Bonding capacity. A general contractor needs subs who can be bonded. That is not self-certified — a surety examines financial statements, work history and management before extending capacity. It is a third party with money at risk assessing whether you can finish.
Federal registration. SAM.gov registration and a CAGE code are prerequisites for federal and federally-funded work, not nice-to-haves.
Self-performance. On a schedule-driven site, a sub who subcontracts again adds a coordination layer and a finger-pointing risk. Trades that self-perform — including the electrical side of automated gates and access control — are easier to schedule and easier to hold accountable.
Our Role
Loudon County Fence has performed fence work at the TRISO-X facility in Oak Ridge. We are not the general contractor — that is Clark Construction Group — and our scope is fencing and gates, which is what we do.
Our broader commercial record includes U.S. Department of Energy facilities, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Lenoir City Utilities Board, the University of Tennessee and Neyland Stadium.
We hold Tennessee Unlimited Contractor License #54371, carry $6M aggregate bonding and $5M general liability, and are SAM.gov registered under CAGE code 37ZM1. All of that is independently verifiable, and we would encourage you to check it.
What It Means If You Own Property Here
Industrial growth changes a residential market. More construction traffic, more development pressure on adjacent land, and in Oak Ridge specifically, more attention to site security standards.
Practical notes for property owners in Anderson and Roane counties:
- Oak Ridge city fence rules use yard-based height limits under Article III of the zoning ordinance — there is no single number. Full Oak Ridge rules here.
- The city spans two counties. An Oak Ridge address may fall under Anderson County's 25-foot front setback and 3.5-foot sight triangle or Roane County's seven-foot permit exemption — neither of which matches the city ordinance.
- Ridge terrain adds cost. Sloped runs must be stepped or racked, commonly adding 10 to 25 percent, and shallow bedrock means post holes that will not simply auger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TRISO-X TX-1?
An advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility under construction in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, expected to be the first commercial TRISO fuel facility in the United States and the first Category 2 Fuel Fabrication Facility licensed by the NRC. It is approximately 214,812 square feet.
Who is building the TRISO-X facility?
Clark Construction Group is the general contractor for the building construction phase, on a $48.2 million award, with Sargent & Lundy as designer. The project is part of the DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
How much fuel will the facility produce?
An estimated 5 metric tons of uranium per year, roughly 700,000 TRISO pebbles — enough fuel for up to 11 Xe-100 reactors.
Has Loudon County Fence worked at TRISO-X?
Yes, on fencing scope. Clark Construction Group is the general contractor. Our broader commercial record includes DOE facilities, TVA, LCUB, the University of Tennessee and Neyland Stadium.
What does a contractor need to work federal-adjacent sites in Tennessee?
Typically an appropriate license classification for the project size, demonstrable bonding capacity assessed by a surety, adequate general liability and workers' compensation, and SAM.gov registration with a CAGE code for federally funded work.
Commercial or Industrial Fence Work?
If you are a general contractor, developer or facility manager working in the Oak Ridge corridor, we are bondable, self-perform fence and gate scope including access control, and have been doing this in East Tennessee since 1973.
Call (865) 988-9935 or see our commercial capabilities.
Project details summarized from X-energy and TRISO-X public announcements and SEC filings, U.S. Department of Energy releases, American Nuclear Society reporting and Clark Construction project information, current as of September 2026. Construction schedules and figures change — check the primary sources for current status.
