
Improve quality of health and productivity, while lowering direct and indirect costs.

Reduced liabilities with safer drivers on the road

Improve access to healthcare - many Americans drive over 25 miles for quality healthcare
Urgent Care Clinic in Oak Ridge, TN
There's a lot of truth to the saying that truck drivers are the backbone of our economy. Commercial driving is an often underrated yet crucial profession. Truckers play a vital role in transporting goods and raw materials from various locations across the country to businesses and consumers. Whether it's gases, liquids, heavy materials, or perishable items, commercial drivers cover countless miles each day, ensuring the smooth operation of the supply chain process.
With so much time on the road, it's safe to say that commercial drivers live unique lives. They only have so much time per year to cross tasks off their list. Important events like seeing family and friends are often at the top of that list. As such, many commercial drivers put their health and wellbeing on the back burner. They often avoid going to a primary care doctors office in Oak Ridge because they have deadlines to meet and responsibilities to uphold - and that's unfortunate.
Commercial drivers experience elevated rates of chronic health issues due to extended hours, a lack of physical activity, and the demands of their work. This impacts not just their wellbeing and life expectancy but also their ability to earn a living. A large percentage of truck drivers have at least one chronic health problem that renders them ineligible for Department of Transportation (DOT) certification.

Despite those realities, most drivers know it's important to get exercise, eat healthy, and see a doctor for yearly checkups. But when they're on the road, where can they go for medical guidance or help when they're sick? Until recently, that question wasn't easy to answer.
Fortunately, there are new options available that have the potential to catch health issues early and save a driver money. Interstate Health is expanding access to high-quality urgent and primary care for everyone who lives and works along our nation's interstate system. It also serves rural and other communities with limited healthcare options.
Your Local Walk-In Clinic in Oak Ridge: Meeting the Needs of Drivers and the Local Community
Truckers and commercial drivers - the men and women who keep America moving - have had to wait too long to have access to reliable healthcare. Many of these professionals settle for poor health due to hectic schedules and a lack of parking at traditional urgent care clinics. Interstate Health is changing the game by offering hardworking drivers a clean, reliable, easy-to-access clinic for primary care and urgent care needs.
Positioned at large travel centers throughout the United States, Interstate Health clinics are advanced, independent facilities that receive central support from a corporate office that operates 24/7. We offer a range of services tailored to drivers and community members, including the following:
Our telehealth therapists in Oak Ridge, TN, focus on a range of specialties, including:
- Urgent Care Services: Testing, Vaccinations, Wound Care, & More
- Primary Care Services: Physicals, Occupational Health, & More
- Telehealth Services: Online Healthcare Services Made Easy
- Pharmacy Services: Refill Your Prescriptions with Ease & Convenience
Whether you live miles away from the closest provider or you're busy keeping our country running as a professional driver, you shouldn't have to put off the care you need. That's why we founded Interstate Health. We're committed to improving the quality of your health and productivity while reducing on-road liabilities and giving you reliable access to healthcare. That's the Interstate Health difference.

Who Are Our Patients?
At this point, you're probably wondering who Interstate Health is best suited to serve. While our urgent care and primary care medical services are a great option for professional drivers, they're also for members of our local community. Our patients include:
Commercial Drivers
Commercial drivers are dedicated, hardworking Americans who strive to excel at their jobs while supporting their families. It shouldn't be challenging to access the necessary care without compromising your time and livelihood. Interstate Health offers convenient, high-quality care, allowing you to maintain your wellbeing and keep moving forward.

Interstate Drivers
Have you ever been on a road trip or a business trip and needed quick access to healthcare professionals? You're not alone. Finding quality, convenient healthcare while traveling can be stressful. With Interstate Health Systems, you can trust you'll get consistent, excellent care no matter which location you visit - and you'll find us close by.

Local Community Members
Every community deserves accessible, high-quality medical care, no matter where they live. This includes rural areas of the United States, which have historically been overlooked when it comes to healthcare. With locations all across the nation's interstate system, Interstate Health Systems is making excellent healthcare more accessible for communities around the country - especially down roads that are less traveled.

Now that you know more about our business and our mission, let's take a deeper look at some of the services offered at Interstate Health.
Primary Care from Interstate Health
When you've been on the highway for hours on end, finding a great primary care physician in Oak Ridge is easier said than done. Sure, you could settle for a mediocre provider that is out of the way, but wouldn't it be easier to find a doctor who's actually on your route? Even if you work on the road, you deserve access to quality preventative care and wellness checks. Interstate Health's primary care clinics give you convenient access to the care you need to stay healthy, even when you're on the clock.
Your primary care physician is like a central hub for all your health needs. They don't just help prevent problems and manage long-term conditions, but they also help you get other specialized care if you need it. Having a primary care doctor means you get consistent care over time that can kickstart and supplement your wellness goals.
Some of the most popular primary care services we offer include:
- Physicals
- Routine Checkups
- Follow-Up Appointments
- Medication Management
- Chronic Illness Management
- Much More
To get started with our primary care services, simply walk into a local Interstate Health clinic or make an appointment online to see a provider the same day. Whether you're always on the road or need to stay close to home, you can expect high-quality care from our medical providers.

Did you know that, according to the CDC, more than 50% of long-range commercial drivers reported suffering from one or more health conditions? Some of those conditions and behaviors include:
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Obesity
- Lack of Physical Activity
- Smoking
- Getting Less Than 6 Hours of Sleep
When you read those conditions and then realize that truck drivers are almost twice as likely to develop diabetes when compared to general workers, it makes you raise your eyebrows. Fortunately, visiting a primary care physician on a regular basis is one of the best ways to get your health in check and live a longer life - especially if you're a commercial driver. Here are just a few other reasons why you should consider visiting a primary care doctor while you're on the road:


Management of Chronic Conditions
It's challenging to independently manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and lupus. Enlisting the support of a primary care doctor can assist in keeping track of how these conditions are impacting your body. Regular appointments and routine tests are essential methods that your doctor can employ to help you effectively manage your chronic disease.

Range of Healthcare Services
Wondering where to go if you start coughing, if you're feeling anxious or depressed, or if you want to know more about a certain vaccine? The answer is simple: Visit your primary care doctor. Your primary care doctor specializes in holistic healthcare, which means they are trained to treat a wide range of issues and coordinate all your healthcare needs in one place. With your primary care doctor, you can address various health concerns in just one appointment, whether they are physical, emotional, or mental.

Overall Healthcare Costs Reduced
Regularly scheduling visits with your primary physician may feel monotonous and possibly unnecessary at times, but according to findings in the Journal of Health Affairs, consistent appointments with a primary care doctor reduce overall medical expenses for patients. Routine checkups, effective communication with your physician, and maintaining an updated health history all play a role in decreasing the overall cost of healthcare.
Urgent Care from Interstate Health
When you've been hauling goods across multiple states for several days at a time, little health issues start to become more and more prevalent. When these issues manifest, it's important to find an urgent care clinic in Oak Ridge so you can get to your destination healthy and happy.
Urgent medical care addresses immediate symptoms associated with accidents, injuries, skin irritations, or sickness at an outpatient center like the Interstate Health clinic. It can be tough to find top-notch care promptly when dealing with an accident, injury, or illness. Our Urgent Care services offer convenient, cost-effective, high-quality care when you're on the road and need to address a medical issue or question quickly.

Access to Support When Living in Remote Areas
Urgent care medicine involves providing immediate medical services for outpatient treatment of both acute and chronic illnesses and injuries. It requires a wide-ranging and comprehensive knowledge base to provide such care. Delivering excellent care for patients with complex or uncommon conditions relies on close communication and collaboration between an urgent care medicine physician, specialists, and primary physicians.
It's important to note that urgent care does not supplant the role of a primary care physician. Rather, an urgent care clinic from Interstate Health is a convenient option when your regular physician is on vacation or unable to offer a timely appointment. It also serves as an alternative to waiting for hours in a hospital Emergency Room when illness strikes outside of regular office hours.
Some of the most common conditions at our urgent care clinics include:
- Cold and Flu
- Each Aches and Infections
- Burns
- Bruises
- Allergic Reactions to Stings and Bites
- Fevers
- Sprains and Fractures
- Infections
- Strep Throat
- Much More
To get started with our urgent care services, visit a local Interstate Health clinic or make an appointment online and see a provider the same day. Whether you're driving in a different state or you're close to home, you can count on high-quality urgent care from Interstate Health.


Urgent care centers are now an essential part of the healthcare system, providing a convenient option for non-life-threatening conditions instead of traditional emergency room visits. Recognizing the advantages of urgent care can significantly influence your healthcare choices, especially when immediate medical attention is needed when you're on the road or outside of your primary care doctor's working hours.
Let's take a look at some of the top reasons why urgent care from Interstate Health might make the most sense for your needs.


Convenience and Accessibility
Urgent care centers are a game-changer, especially for non-life-threatening situations. They offer extended hours, walk-in appointments, and quick access to prescriptions like antibiotics. From sore throats to broken bones, they've got you covered. No more waiting days for your primary care physician or enduring long waits at the emergency room.

Cost Savings
Going to an urgent care clinic from Interstate Health can be a budget-friendly option compared to emergency room visits. Many health insurance plans cover urgent care visits, and the co-pay is usually much less than that of an emergency room visit. Even if you're paying out of pocket, the cost of treatment at an urgent care center is typically lower for the same services offered in the emergency room.
By choosing urgent care for appropriate situations, you can avoid unnecessary tests and treatments that are more common in an emergency room, potentially saving you from an expensive bill. Plus, urgent care centers offer convenience and quick access to the care you need, making them a wise choice for many professional drivers.

Many Conditions Treated
Urgent care centers offer a wide range of services beyond just treating the flu or minor cuts. They can provide stitches for kitchen mishaps, X-rays for injuries, and manage infections, minor burns, sprains, asthma attacks, and dehydration. Many urgent care clinics offer lab services for blood tests and onsite pharmacies to fill prescriptions. This comprehensive range of services makes urgent care from Interstate Health a convenient one-stop solution for unexpected health needs.
This versatility means you can receive comprehensive care without needing multiple appointments or visits to different locations. You can walk in, speak with a doctor, and receive a diagnosis, treatment, and prescribed medication all in one visit, allowing you to meet deadlines and stay on track when you're driving.

Wait Times Are Shorter
One of the best things about urgent care clinics is that they often save you time. Unlike the ER, where you can wait for hours, urgent care centers are known for being fast. Most patients are seen and treated much quicker than they would be at a hospital emergency room. This means you can get in, get out, and get on with your day without waiting for a long time.
This quick service doesn't mean the care is not good. When you visit an Interstate Health urgent care clinic in Oak Ridge, our practitioners are experts at assessing your medical needs, deciding what treatments are most important, and providing effective medical attention. They're prepared to handle a lot of different situations quickly and carefully. Whether you've got a small injury or a sudden illness, you'll get help quickly so you can start feeling better sooner.
That's a big deal for truckers and other commercial drivers who need reliable, quality healthcare services during non-traditional hours.

Free Up Availability at Hospitals
Urgent care clinics offered by Interstate Health aren't just beneficial for commercial drivers. They also play a crucial role in the overall healthcare system by providing an efficient alternative for non-life-threatening conditions. This significantly reduces the strain on hospital emergency rooms, which are meant for critical care-serious injuries, life-threatening illnesses, and conditions requiring immediate, advanced medical attention.
This strategic redirection of patient flow improves the efficiency of healthcare delivery, ensuring that each patient receives the appropriate level of care in the most suitable setting. It's a win-win situation: Long-range drivers like you receive quicker, more convenient treatment for minor issues, while hospitals can focus on emergencies and critical care.
Find Innovative Healthcare on the Road or at Home
For too long, truck drivers have struggled to get healthcare because traditional clinics and hospitals don't have parking for trucks. This makes it hard for them to take time off the road to get the care they need. Interstate Health is working to change that. Our innovative, technology-based medical services company provides crucial urgent and primary care along our nation's interstate highway system. We believe that everyone deserves easy access to healthcare when they need it - even if you're driving a rig across the country every month.
Visit one of our clinics across the country today, so you can stay healthy and keep on trucking tomorrow.
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Latest News in Oak Ridge, TN
Three new Culver's restaurants are set to open in East Tennessee. See where and when
Allison Kiehlhttps://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/06/12/culvers-opening-new-restaurants-east-tennessee-oak-ridge-sevierville-whataburger/84071171007/
First, Knoxville got a Whataburger and now... more Culver's locations? East Tennessee is winning the chain burger restaurant lottery.Culver's announced the opening of thr...
First, Knoxville got a Whataburger and now... more Culver's locations? East Tennessee is winning the chain burger restaurant lottery.
Culver's announced the opening of three new Tennessee locations, all of which are on the Eastern third of the state. The new locations will be in Hixson, Oak Ridge and Sevierville
In Oak Ridge, the restaurant will be at 1510 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Construction of the franchise is already underway and the store is set to open in September, pending adverse weather, according to Kaleb DeFreese, the new location's owner-operator.
The Sevierville franchise is under construction on the Dolly Parton Parkway. No opening date has been announced.
Culver's is a Wisconsin-based fast-food chain that is famous for its ButterBurgers, frozen custard and cheese curds. A ButterBurger is cooked to order and topped with a lightly buttered, toasted bun.
If burgers aren't your thing, the chain has a diverse menu that includes, chicken, salads and even seafood.
Is your mouth watering yet? If so, you can visit one of the chain's currently operating restaurants in Alcoa, at 270 Hamilton Crossing Drive, or in Cedar Bluff at 9113 Kingston Pike.
The Midwest chain has more than 1,000 locations across 26 states, according to its website.
This Culver's expansion is the latest in the Knoxville area's fast-food burger boom. Recently, Whataburger announced the opening of three new restaurants around the Scruffy City.
There have also been rumors that California-based In-and-Out Burger could be joining Knoxville's fast-food mix. However, there has been no confirmation that the franchise would expand to East Tennessee.
How many Culver's locations are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee is one of 26 states to have Culver's locations. Currently, Culver's has nine restaurants operating across the state.
Oak Ridge editor Donna Smith contributed to this report.
Standard Nuclear Emerges from Stealth with $42 Million in Funding to Secure the Domestic Advanced Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain
Business Wirehttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250610455936/en/Standard-Nuclear-Emerges-from-Stealth-with-%2442-Million-in-Funding-to-Secure-the-Domestic-Advanced-Nuclear-Fuel-Supply-Chain
With fresh funding, Standard Nuclear is accelerating the production of TRISO nuclear fuel for advanced reactors at industrial scale, emerging as the nation’s only reactor-agnostic TRISO fuel manufacturer and poised to transform domestic nuclear energy supply chainsStandard NuclearOAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Standard Nuclear, Inc., a reactor-agnostic producer of TRISO nuclear fuel, today announced its launch from stealth with $42 milli...
With fresh funding, Standard Nuclear is accelerating the production of TRISO nuclear fuel for advanced reactors at industrial scale, emerging as the nation’s only reactor-agnostic TRISO fuel manufacturer and poised to transform domestic nuclear energy supply chains
Standard Nuclear
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Standard Nuclear, Inc., a reactor-agnostic producer of TRISO nuclear fuel, today announced its launch from stealth with $42 million in total funding led by Decisive Point with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Washington Harbour Partners, Welara, Fundomo, and Crucible Capital.
Standard Nuclear is accelerating the production of TRISO nuclear fuel for advanced reactors at industrial scale, emerging as the nation’s only reactor-agnostic TRISO fuel manufacturer and poised to transform domestic nuclear energy supply chains
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As power demands surge for data centers, energy-intensive industries, and transportable energy solutions in defense and remote locations, Standard Nuclear is focused exclusively on supporting the advanced nuclear fuel supply chain through scaled production of TRISO, a critical and highly durable fuel for advanced nuclear reactors. Following decades of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) scientific research, in 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a safety evaluation report confirming the exceptional performance and robust safety profile of TRISO fuel, marking a significant step toward its use in advanced nuclear reactors.
Next-generation nuclear reactors, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro reactors, will drive the future of reliable and flexible energy, but these systems require specialized advanced nuclear fuels to unlock their full potential. Currently, few companies are producing TRISO fuel, and production is limited to small batches for their own proprietary reactor designs. As the country’s first and only independent TRISO fuel manufacturer without reactor development operations of its own, Standard Nuclear’s model strengthens the advanced reactor supply chain by providing a reliable, independent source of fuel.
Standard Nuclear owns and operates a set of fully equipped commercial-scale facilities totaling 19,000-square-feet that sit on its 36.8 acre campus located at the former K-25 Nuclear site in Oak Ridge, TN. The Company operates its fully permitted radiological facilities to manufacture and supply TRISO fuel forms with varying specifications for its multiple commercial and government customers.
“As the demand for power accelerates, nuclear is a clear and practical solution. Advanced nuclear fuels like TRISO for small modular and micro-reactors are necessary to unleash American energy dominance and enable a future with abundant power,” said Thomas Hendrix, General Partner at Decisive Point and Executive Chairman of Standard Nuclear. “With the capital from this funding round, Standard Nuclear is positioned to deliver on our growing customer orders, accelerate our growth, and fill the domestic supply gap. We are rapidly scaling TRISO fuel production to advance our mission of securing the domestic supply chain and achieving energy independence.”
The Standard Nuclear team is comprised of over two dozen employees with 150+ years combined DOE National Lab experience. Founded in 2024, the company has booked $5 million in contracts in the first quarter of 2025, and signed a major fuel offtake agreement for over 1 MTU of fuel with an additional 1.5 MTU in negotiation, representing more than $100 million in non-binding fuel sales for 2027. In just a few months, the company has established strategic customer relationships for its various products and services with a diversified group of commercial and government customers including Radiant Industries, Antares, Nano Nuclear Energy, Jimmy Energy, The U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, and the Department of Defense.
“Most of the long-anticipated wave of advanced reactors finally arriving to market are harnessing the unique, inherent advantages of TRISO fuel—benefits that have been validated through decades of DOE and NRC investment and scientific rigor,” said Dr. Kurt Terrani, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Nuclear. “These reactors can’t run without fuel, and we’re here to ensure there are no uncertainties in that supply. We’re not just delivering TRISO fuel at scale—we’re doing it at a cost that enables a robust, competitive, and sustainable advanced reactor industry.”
About TRISO — The Most Robust Nuclear Fuel on Earth
Tristructural Isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel is composed of tiny uranium-bearing spheres encapsulated by successive layers of carbon and ceramic-based materials. Each TRISO particle, about the size of a poppy seed, acts as its own containment system for uranium and its radioactive fission products and eliminating the possibility of a meltdown event. The unique coated layer structure of TRISO particles enhances fuel performance and safety, making TRISO particularly well-suited for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and other emerging advanced nuclear reactors. TRISO production has been substantially de-risked, as its design and manufacturing processes have matured over six decades. Initially developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the Dragon Reactor, an HTGR, the technology saw meaningful advancements in the following decades. After various phases of research, development, and occasional dormancy, the U.S. Department of Energy revived and began further improving TRISO fuel in 2002 with the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) Fuel Development and Qualification Program, focusing on modernization of the manufacturing and quality control methods, as well as irradiation performance tests of UCO fuel kernel system.
The AGR program paved the way for further advancements in TRISO fuel, setting an international record by demonstrating that TRISO fuel could safely withstand temperatures up to 1800°C throughout a multi-year campaign led by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and supported by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). According to INL, the fuel performed even better than they expected. Based on these results, the NRC reviewed the data and gave a safety approval in 2019, further advancing TRISO’s widespread adoption as the premiere fuel for next-generation nuclear reactors.
Because of its excellent performance and safety qualities, TRISO fuel will be used in the vast majority of new reactor designs.
About Standard Nuclear
Standard Nuclear’s mission is to reliably deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power at scale—enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy for the world. Supported by leading U.S. defense technology and critical infrastructure investment firms, Standard Nuclear is focused on the large-scale production of advanced nuclear fuel and radioisotope power systems. It is the nation’s only independent manufacturer of TRISO fuel—a robust, high-performance fuel essential to advanced nuclear reactors for both terrestrial and space applications. Standard Nuclear offers a reactor-agnostic supply of advanced fuels to the next-generation nuclear industry and delivers dependable radioisotope power solutions to the space and defense sectors. Through these efforts, it is helping to eliminate U.S. reliance on geopolitical adversaries for these strategically vital technologies. For more information, visit: https://www.standardnuclear.com/
Tennessee baseball commit wins Mr. Baseball award
Yahoo! Newshttps://sports.yahoo.com/article/tennessee-baseball-commit-wins-mr-102631698.html
2026 Tennessee baseball commit Mikee Teasley was named Class 4A Mr. Baseball by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.The junior pitcher and third baseman is from Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He led the Wildcats to the Class 4A state tournament for ...
2026 Tennessee baseball commit Mikee Teasley was named Class 4A Mr. Baseball by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The junior pitcher and third baseman is from Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He led the Wildcats to the Class 4A state tournament for a second consecutive season. Teasley also earned District 3-4A Player of the Year honors by the league's coaches following the 2025 regular season.
Teasley committed to the Vols and head coach Tony Vitello on Oct. 20, 2024.
Oak Ridge was slated to open tournament play Tuesday against Clarksville at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Tuesday, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. The first-round game will now be contested Wednesday with first pitch slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Oak Ridge (34-7) set a school record for wins this season, eclipsing last year's total of 28. The Wildcats won both the District 3-4A regular-season title and postseason tournament championship.
Teasley entered state tournament play with a .391 batting average. He has totaled seven home runs, 33 RBIs and 12 doubles.
Teasley (8-1) has recorded a 1.16 ERA and 113 strikeouts as a pitcher.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Future Vol wins Mr. Baseball award
Summer Events In Oak Ridge
Christine Plothowhttps://knoxvillemoms.com/summer-events-in-oak-ridge/
School is out for the summer, so it’s time to make summer bucket lists where we can do all the fun things we want to do.Water Wise Week: June 9-13, Various Locations around Oak RidgeWater Wise Week is a fun educational refresher about how important water is. There are activities around Oak Ridge every day from June 9-13. From June 9-13, adults and kids can do five additional activities and win prizes for completing the task. Check out where they are meeting June 9-13 and the additional activities ...
School is out for the summer, so it’s time to make summer bucket lists where we can do all the fun things we want to do.
Water Wise Week: June 9-13, Various Locations around Oak Ridge
Water Wise Week is a fun educational refresher about how important water is. There are activities around Oak Ridge every day from June 9-13. From June 9-13, adults and kids can do five additional activities and win prizes for completing the task. Check out where they are meeting June 9-13 and the additional activities here.
Oak Ridge Schools/SFE Summer Sunshine Bus Feeding Program: Monday- Friday, June 2-27
There are two options for summer feeding this year in Oak Ridge for kids 18 and under. First check out where the Sunshine Bus is going to be around the city Monday-Friday in June from 10:30am-3:15 pm.
Second, the Oak Ridge High School has their Open Cafe from 10:30-11:30 AM Monday through Friday in June located at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge.
For additional information and questions email Kristina Barnard at kristina.barnard@sfellc.org.
Summer Movie Club House: June 2- August 7, Oak Ridge Cinemark, Oak Ridge, TN
Summer Movie Club House is now playing in Oak Ridge! From June 2-August 7 every Wednesday at 9:30 Cinemark will be playing family friendly movies for $1.75 a ticket. A great activity for when you need to get out of the heat. Check out the movie schedule here.
Coffe House: June 20, 6-8pm, Grace Luthern Church, 131 W Gettysburg Ave, Oak Ridge
Come for a night of fun! Grace Lutheran is opening their doors to the community for an evening event. There will be music, coffee, snacks, and more. Bring your kids! Childcare is provided with fun actives for all ages. Bring a friend or two for this night of fellowship.
Lavender Festival: June 21, 8am-4pm, Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN
The Lavender Festival is a great family outing. It is hosted in the beautiful historic Jackson Square where lavender is the star of the show. There are over 100 vendors that participate with activities for everyone in the family to enjoy. Kids’ highlights are the splash fountain, smoothie bike, mini train ride, a bee scavenger hunt, learning about pollinators, and the art spot.
4th of July Fireworks: July 4, Sundown, A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge
The City of Oak Ridge puts on a spectacular firework show every 4th of July. The event is kicked off by the Oak Ridge Community Band’s performance at 7:30pm at A.K. Bissell Park followed by the fireworks at sundown. If you are not interested in the concert, but still want to see the fireworks, you do not need to go to the park to view them. There are many areas around the park where you can have great views of the firework show. Our family always goes across the street to the high school to view the fireworks. Make sure to find a spot early, as the fireworks attract large crowds. Bring chairs and blankets to sit on.
Story Time: Oak Ridge Public Library, Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30am
Color your world this summer at the summer reading program put on by the Oak Ridge Public Library. Every Monday and Tuesday from now-July 7 at 10:30am, the library has a special guest that will come and perform. It culminates in a party held on July 9 for all those who have completed their summer reading logs. The library holds the program in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gym next to the Public Library. The library does a phenomenal job with the program. It is a must do with your kids, even if you do not do the summer reading program. Sign up and more information here.
Oak Ridge Community Band Concerts
The Oak Ridge Community Band hosts concerts throughout the summer showcasing a variety of music for all ages to enjoy. All concerts are free and open to the public. If held outside, bring your own chairs, or blanket to sit on. Enjoy the shows!
Independence Day Concert July 4, 7:30pm A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge
Labor Day Concert August 31, 7pm A.K. Bissell Park, Oak Ridge
First US utility seeks permit for a small nuclear reactor as TVA advances plan for Oak Ridge
The Associated Presshttps://wpln.org/post/first-us-utility-seeks-permit-for-a-small-nuclear-reactor-as-tva-advances-plan-for-oak-ridge/
Share:FacebookThreadsXFor the first time in the United States, a utility is asking federal regulators for a permit to build a small nuclear reactor.The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, announced Tuesday it submitted a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear R...
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For the first time in the United States, a utility is asking federal regulators for a permit to build a small nuclear reactor.
The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, announced Tuesday it submitted a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a small, modular nuclear reactor. It wants to develop next-generation nuclear power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at its Clinch River site.
TVA President and CEO Don Moul said that by going first, they can show other utilities a way to accelerate the development of small nuclear reactors.
“Nuclear is very reliable, very resilient. It is carbon free,” he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Monday. “It is, what I would consider, one of the highest quality generating sources we have. And so starting a path forward not only helps others in America follow, but it can also help America lead the world in the new technology.”
The federally owned utility provides electricity to seven states and operates three traditional, large nuclear power plants, which provide 40% of the Tennessee Valley’s power. The region’s population is growing, industries are replacing fossil fuels with electric alternatives and there’s more manufacturing. The TVA expects to need up to 26 gigawatts of power by 2035, enough to power roughly 15 million homes, to meet the growing demand for electricity and replace retiring power plants.
Its board launched a program in 2022 to develop and fund small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, and has provided $350 million for it so far.
More: TVA 2020 v. 2030: Why the nation’s largest public utility is not getting cleaner
U.S. electric utilities have been reluctant to invest in new nuclear construction because of large cost overruns and delays in Georgia, as Georgia Power Co.’s Plant Vogtle was expanded from two of the traditional large reactors to four, said Jacopo Buongiorno, professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The TVA decision is meaningful because it may be the start of a trend, Buongiorno added.
The United States does not have any next-generation reactors operating commercially. The NRC is currently reviewing applications from companies that want to build these reactors to begin providing power in the early 2030s.
A project to build the first was terminated in 2023, as costs increased and not enough local power providers signed up to be part of it.
This month, the power company in Ontario, Canada, began building the first of four small nuclear reactors. Ontario Power Generation chose the same reactor the TVA wants to build, GE Hitachi’s design that uses light water like all large U.S. commercial reactors.
In Ontario, they’re expecting the first to cost $6.1 billion Canadian dollars ($4.4 billion), along with $1.6 billion Canadian dollars ($1.1 billion) for equipment to build all four. The cost is expected to decline with each subsequent reactor. TVA’s cost estimates are in the same range, Moul said, but he declined to give specifics and said the utility is looking for partners to help with the initial costs.
The nonprofit Environmental Working Group says far cheaper, safer and cleaner electricity can be delivered much faster through investments in proven renewable sources like solar rooftops, battery storage and wind power. There’s “no bigger example of a money pit than the fantasy of small modular reactors” as a viable source of energy in the U.S., said Alex Formuzis, spokesperson for the research and advocacy organization.
The Biden administration announced a $900 million investment in these reactors last year. The Trump administration also supports building small modular reactors for flexible, reliable power for energy-intensive sectors like industry and data centers as electricity demand soars. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in March that the $900 million would be awarded, but applicants had to submit new proposals to be judged solely on technical merit, without consideration for past diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
The TVA and its industry partners applied for $800 million in federal funding, which they say will help speed up the development of the technology by about two years.
The NRC has already said the Clinch River site is suitable for a new nuclear plant. There’s enough room for a total of four small reactors. If the NRC and the TVA board approve the plans to build the first reactor there, it could begin operating around 2032, providing 300 megawatts of power, which is enough for about 175,000 homes.
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