US start-up Blue Energy has submitted the first part of its application for a building permit to the US Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRC) for its gas-to-nuclear project at the Port of Victoria in Texas. The plant is designed as a hybrid power plant. To meet immediate energy needs, the campus will initially be powered by natural gas starting in 2028. Later, the infrastructure will be seamlessly converted to nuclear energy.
The site will initially install two high-efficiency GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines, delivering approximately 1 GWe of power by 2030. This allows the project to generate electricity and revenue quickly while the nuclear infrastructure is being reviewed and built. The complex will gradually transition to nuclear baseload power starting around 2032, adding up to five GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) to contribute another 1.5 GW of capacity. The reactors will eventually use the same balance-of-plant (BOP) infrastructure originally built for the gas turbines.
The first part of the application now submitted focuses on approval for the early natural gas infrastructure as well as initial foundation work for the reactors. The second part is expected to follow in the second half of 2027, once a full year of site-specific environmental data has been collected. GE Vernova Hitachi has supported Blue Energy with information in this application. The planned total capacity is expected to be 2.5 GWe, which will primarily be used for a nearby, 1,600-hectare AI data centre campus of infrastructure developer Crusoe.
The first portion of the application focuses on the site’s first nuclear unit and specifically requests permission to begin early, limited site activities, including deep foundation and shaft works to house the first SMR. It also seeks approval for the resequenced approach – building the natural gas infrastructure and balance-of-plant first. It is hoping for an environmental report concluding no significant impact from the natural gas footprint on local wildlife, tribal lands, or historical sites.
Because NRC requires a full calendar year of site-specific environmental and geotechnical field data, Blue Energy is taking a phased approach. The company expects to submit the second half of its construction permit application in late 2027, following the final investment decision. The extensive application and supporting technical information were prepared by Blue Energy’s regulatory team, which has over 80 years of combined NRC licensing experience, along with the company’s engineering, financial, and environmental teams and other experts.
“This is serious work done by serious people for a serious project. This is another huge step towards building the world’s first gas-to-nuclear power plant and proving the Blue Energy approach to build nuclear in the safest, quickest, and most scalable way possible,” said Blue Energy CEO and co-founder Jake Jurewicz. “We have a world-class team here at Blue Energy and they have produced this thorough and forward-thinking application in world-class time. We look forward to completing the licensing process so we can build this groundbreaking gas-to-nuclear plant and demonstrate the world’s first project financed nuclear power product.”
The application builds on Blue Energy’s achievements over the previous year. · In December 2025, NRC approved Blue Energy’s licensing topical report, which supported the company’s innovative approach to resequencing major phases of nuclear plant construction included in today’s application. The company also raised more than $400m in financing, including key strategic investments from companies like Constellation Technology Ventures.
In August, Blue Energy announced a “project acceleration agreement” with GE Vernova and GE Vernova Hitachi to facilitate the deployment of their gas turbines and SMRs at the Texas gas-to-nuclear project. Earlier in September, Blue Energy retained Societe Generale to assist in structuring and arranging project financing for the Texas project.
