Federal dollars fuel Oak Ridge growth as BWXT lands $1.5 billion building and prototyping contract
BWXT started construction of its Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in June 2025. This marks a critical step forward in the company’s efforts to support NNSA’s establishment of a fully domestic uranium enrichment capability.
Dollars are flowing in Oak Ridge, as the race to energy independence heats up across the United States. BWX Technologies (BWXT) is a recent recipient of a $1.5 billion contract, and the next company in a long chain of economic development announcements for Oak Ridge.
The $1.5 billion project, awarded by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), is designed to ensure the U.S. can independently produce nuclear materials critical to its security missions.
BWXT is a large, publicly traded manufacturing and engineering company that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine, and space exploration.
They currently have nearly 10,000 employees, and about 20 major operating sites in the U.S. But soon, two more facilities will be added to that list – both in Tennessee: one in Oak Ridge and the other in Erwin.
Commitment to Oak Ridge & Erwin
Back in June of this year, BWXT broke ground on a new Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility in Oak Ridge. At the site, centrifuges, which are essentially high-speed machines, will separate uranium particles. And, they will need to hire about 100 people to operate the machines.
BWXT acquired nearly 97 acres in Oak Ridge for the centrifuge manufacturing site and is receiving support from the State of Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund, reinforcing the state’s commitment to growing its nuclear energy sector.
The material developed in Oak Ridge will then be used at a new pilot plant that BWXT is developing in Erwin. They are calling it the “Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment.”
The Erwin site will first demonstrate the production of low-enriched uranium for defense purposes, and later transition to producing highly enriched uranium for naval propulsion systems, such as those used in submarines and aircraft carriers.
For now, the Erwin plant will serve as a testbed for uranium enrichment technologies before transitioning to full-scale production. The centrifuges built in Oak Ridge will be installed and operated at the Erwin site, linking the two facilities in a tightly integrated supply chain.
Why does this matter?
This initiative is more than a technical milestone; it’s a strategic move to restore the U.S.’s sovereign capability to produce enriched uranium, a material that has long been sourced from international partners.
By investing in domestic production, the NNSA hopes to secure critical supply chains and ensure that the country can meet its defense needs on time and without external dependencies.
BWXT President and Chief Executive Officer Rex D. Geveden said the company’s selection for the project reflects its long-standing role in supporting the nation’s nuclear defense mission.
“Once operational, both facilities will enable us to scale manufacturing, so the United States maintains sovereign capability to produce vital nuclear materials for national security,” he said.
For East Tennessee, this project is a powerful reminder of the region’s legacy in nuclear innovation and its growing role in national security and advanced manufacturing.
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