The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) received an operating license for its Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear reactor, according to a press release issued by the TVA.
TVA's Watts Bar Unit 2 is the first new nuclear reactor in nearly 20 years that the U.S. Government has given approval.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued the license to TVA on Thursday, October 22, 2015, approving the first new nuclear reactor in the 21st century to begin its service, according to the press release.
The site is located near Spring City, Tennessee.
Bill Johnson, the president and CEO of TVA, said in the press release that the completion of the Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear reactor was for the "long-term good of the Tennessee Valley."
"The unit is essential to diversifying TVA's power sources to assure the more than 9 million people served by TVA and its local power company partners have affordable and reliable electricity generated in an environmentally friendly manner," he said.
Scott Burnell, a spokesperson from the NRC, told The Wall Street Journal that they are satisfied with the work that TVA did with the reactor.
He said that TVA was able to "meet all the relevant requirements for safe operation" of the new nuclear reactor.
The Wall Street Journal adds that experts are still skeptical that the approval of the new nuclear reactor will open the door for more nuclear reactors projects.
They said that this is due to the high cost of building and operating nuclear plants and the competition from lower-cost natural gas plants.
TVA said in the press release that during the construction of the nuclear reactor, more than 3,500 people were employed and the crew was able to reach more than 33 million work hours without a lost-time accident.
This reflected the importance of safety and quality on the project.
TVA adds in the press release that the Watts Bar team is now working on preparing the reactor for fuel load and making sure all the key components and systems for operations are ready.
The Watts Bar Unit 2 is on schedule for operation in early 2016.
