ONE Nuclear Advances 1 GW SMR Project in Louisiana
ONE Nuclear Energy LLC (“ONE Nuclear”), an independent developer focused on large-scale energy solutions powered by natural gas and advanced nuclear technologies, is moving forward with Project Amberjack, a small modular reactor (SMR) development in Louisiana. The company announced that the project has entered the technical and environmental evaluation phase, marking another step in its strategy to develop scalable generation assets across the state.
The announcement follows ONE Nuclear’s recent disclosure of Project Cayman, a separate 2.88 GW energy development also planned for Louisiana. Together, the projects form part of the company’s broader Louisiana development platform, which is designed to support a range of energy technologies and respond to growing electricity demand.
Project Amberjack is being developed as a standalone, scalable, multi-unit SMR campus with a target capacity of up to 1 GW of advanced nuclear generation. The final size and configuration of the project have not yet been determined. ONE Nuclear said the ultimate capacity, reactor technology and plant design will depend on several factors, including technology selection, detailed engineering, environmental assessments, transmission studies, commercial arrangements, financing and the federal nuclear licensing process.
Project Amberjack Moves Into Site-Specific Development
ONE Nuclear has secured site control for Project Amberjack and completed a substantial amount of preliminary development work. The company has carried out initial nuclear siting and constraints analyses, prepared supporting assessment memoranda and screening materials, and developed conceptual layouts for a dedicated SMR campus.
According to the company, the work completed so far provides a foundation for moving Amberjack beyond portfolio-level evaluation and into a more detailed, site-specific development program. The next stage will involve extensive technical diligence and regulatory preparation as ONE Nuclear works toward potential future engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and other federal, state and local agencies.
The company emphasized that the development work completed to date remains preliminary. It does not represent approval of the site by the NRC, a reactor license, environmental authorization or a final engineering decision. Instead, the completed assessments establish an initial development framework and define the sequence of activities required to advance the project toward regulatory review and future investment decisions.
“Amberjack is the clearest expression of who ONE Nuclear is and why the company was created,” said Chris Hansmeyer, Chief Development Officer of ONE Nuclear. He described the project as more than a conceptual development, highlighting the company’s control of the site, completed initial siting work and planned progression into engineering, community engagement and federal licensing.
Hansmeyer added that securing the Amberjack site, following the announcement of Project Cayman, reinforces ONE Nuclear’s commitment to developing scalable energy projects within its wider Louisiana platform. He also pointed to Louisiana’s efforts to position itself as a leading destination for advanced nuclear development and the broader expansion of nuclear energy in the United States.
Technical Studies and NRC Preparation
The next phase of Project Amberjack will concentrate on studies needed to establish the technical and environmental suitability of the site and prepare the project for potential regulatory engagement.
ONE Nuclear plans to undertake comprehensive land, geotechnical and environmental field investigations. These studies are expected to provide additional information about site conditions and help inform future engineering and plant-design decisions.
The company will also evaluate cooling-water requirements and logistics considerations associated with the development of a multi-unit SMR campus. Transmission and interconnection studies will examine how the planned nuclear generation could connect to the regional electricity network and support future power delivery.
Another key element of the next phase will be vendor-neutral SMR technology screening. Rather than committing prematurely to a specific reactor design, ONE Nuclear intends to evaluate available advanced nuclear technologies against the project’s site characteristics, technical requirements, commercial considerations and potential licensing pathways.
This technology-flexible approach is intended to allow the company to select an appropriate reactor solution as engineering and regulatory work progresses.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Alongside technical development, ONE Nuclear is beginning to expand stakeholder engagement at the local and state levels. The company said future public communications will be coordinated as Project Amberjack progresses through field investigations, technology evaluation and regulatory planning.
Community engagement is expected to form an important part of the project’s development pathway. As the project advances, discussions with relevant stakeholders can help address issues associated with infrastructure, environmental considerations, employment, economic development and the potential role of advanced nuclear generation within Louisiana’s energy system.
ONE Nuclear’s stage-gated development approach is designed to allow technical and commercial decisions to be made as additional information becomes available rather than establishing final project parameters at an early stage.
Amberjack Supports ONE Nuclear’s Broader Energy Strategy
Project Amberjack represents the advanced nuclear component of ONE Nuclear’s broader portfolio of energy developments. The company is pursuing multiple technologies, including small modular reactors, natural gas generation, solar power and battery energy storage.
Through this multi-technology strategy, ONE Nuclear aims to develop projects around the specific requirements of customers, electricity grids and communities. Amberjack is intended to demonstrate the company’s focus on advanced nuclear power while maintaining flexibility around reactor technology, plant configuration and commercial structure.
The project’s stage-gated approach places emphasis on technical diligence, technology flexibility, stakeholder engagement and regulatory preparation. These factors will be important as ONE Nuclear works toward future licensing milestones and a potential notice to proceed.
Project Fits Louisiana’s Nuclear Ambitions
Project Amberjack is advancing as Louisiana strengthens its focus on advanced nuclear energy and the development of a broader nuclear industrial ecosystem.
Louisiana’s Nuclear Strategic Framework identifies advanced reactor deployment, nuclear manufacturing, workforce development, industrial growth and energy security as important priorities. The state is seeking to leverage its existing industrial capabilities and infrastructure to expand its position in the emerging nuclear economy.
Governor Jeff Landry’s “Whole-of-Louisiana Energy Strategy” similarly calls for a streamlined approach to energy innovation, including modular nuclear technologies, as part of efforts to strengthen energy security and support America’s position in global energy markets.
ONE Nuclear believes Amberjack aligns with several of the characteristics emphasized in Louisiana’s nuclear strategy. These include access to the Mississippi River, an established energy-sector workforce, regional transportation infrastructure and proximity to a major transmission corridor.
As technical, environmental and regulatory work progresses, Project Amberjack will move through additional development gates before final decisions are made regarding reactor selection, capacity, configuration, financing and construction. For now, the advancement of the project marks another step in ONE Nuclear’s effort to build a diversified energy development platform in Louisiana, with advanced nuclear technology positioned as a key component of its long-term generation strategy.
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