1 GW nuclear campus advances in Louisiana as reactor technology screening begins

ONE Nuclear Energy is moving a planned small modular reactor project in Louisiana into technical and environmental evaluation, with Project Amberjack targeting up to 1 gigawatt of advanced nuclear capacity. The project is being developed as a standalone, multi-unit nuclear campus. ONE Nuclear says it has secured control of the site and completed preliminary work including nuclear siting analyses, constraints assessments and conceptual layouts. Amberjack is still in an early development stage. The company has not selected the reactor technology or finalized the plant configuration. Those decisions will depend on further engineering, environmental studies, transmission analysis, commercial arrangements, financing, and the federal licensing process. The next phase will take the project from preliminary site work toward the studies needed for future engagement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ONE Nuclear plans to conduct land, geotechnical and environmental field studies, alongside evaluations of cooling water, logistics, transmission and grid interconnection. Louisiana site moves forward The company is also planning a technology-neutral screening of available small modular reactor designs. That approach gives ONE Nuclear flexibility to evaluate different reactor technologies before committing to a specific system. “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. “This is not a conceptual pin on a map. It is a controlled site supported by completed initial siting work and a defined path into engineering, community engagement and federal licensing.” That distinction is important because Amberjack does not yet have approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The preliminary work also does not amount to a reactor license, environmental authorization or final engineering decision. Instead, the company is building the technical and regulatory foundation needed to eventually seek those approvals. Nuclear campus takes shape The planned facility is part of ONE Nuclear’s wider Louisiana development strategy, which includes nuclear, natural gas generation, solar and battery storage projects. The company is positioning Amberjack specifically around advanced nuclear generation and a staged development process. The Louisiana location could offer several advantages as the project develops. ONE Nuclear points to access to the Mississippi River, an established energy workforce, regional transportation infrastructure and proximity to a major transmission corridor. The project also arrives as Louisiana pushes to expand its nuclear industry. The state’s nuclear strategy includes advanced reactor deployment, nuclear manufacturing, workforce development and energy security. If the project ultimately reaches its targeted capacity, Amberjack could provide up to 1 GW of nuclear generation from multiple reactor units. But the final capacity remains subject to technology selection, detailed engineering, regulatory review and financing. The project follows ONE Nuclear’s recent announcement of Project Cayman, a separate 2.88-GW energy project in Louisiana. The two developments form part of the company’s broader effort to build large-scale power infrastructure in the state. For Amberjack, the immediate goal is more basic: prove that the site, technology, grid connection, and environmental conditions can support a licensable nuclear facility. ONE Nuclear is targeting the next phase of technical studies and stakeholder engagement as it prepares for future federal regulatory discussions. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.