{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cloud.house.gov/posts/texas-port-looks-to-smrs", "Texas Port Looks to SMRs", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Cloud", "C001115", "cloud.house.gov", "cloud", "https://cloud.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Nuclear Engineering International\n\nAugust 25th, 2026\n\nAnew US partnership focused on small modular reactor (SMR) technology for maritime applications has been launched by US Secretary of Transportation Sean P Duffy with the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas. Duffy, Maritime Administrator (MARAD) Stephen M Carmel, US Representative Michael Cloud and Port leaders kicked off the initiative which aims to revitalise US shipbuilding, cut fuel costs, and restore US maritime dominance.\n\nIt is the second agreement the Department has signed since Secretary Duffy launched the SMR initiative in May. The first agreement was signed by MARAD, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in June with the Port of Long Beach in California. That agreement directly complemented a separate lease at the port with BlueCore Energy, a nuclear startup developing floating, barge-mounted SMRs.\n\nThe Port of Corpus Christi is the largest US port for petroleum exports and a national leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. In the first half of 2026, energy-related cargo movements at the port included 11.5 m tonnes of LNG, a 36.3% increase year-over-year, 17.1m tonnes of refined products, 8.2m tonnes of bulk liquids, 914,606 tonnes of natural gas liquids, and 66m tonnes of crude oil. In June, the port handled 110.3m tonnes of cargoes making the first half of 2026 the best first half of the year in the port\u2019s history.\n\nThrough a memorandum of cooperation (MOC), MARAD and the Port of Corpus Christi agreed to work together to explore opportunities to advance maritime energy systems, including through the potential integration of SMR technologies, resilient port microgrids, shoreside power architecture, infrastructure capable of supporting emerging vessel propulsion concepts, and related workforce development opportunities.\n\n\u201cSmall modular reactors have the potential to reshape America\u2019s maritime sector, lower shipping costs, and bolster our supply chains,\u201d said Duffy. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the Port of Corpus Christi is embracing this exciting partnership with the Trump Administration to ensure the United States leads the way in innovation. Maritime dominance starts with rebuilding America\u2019s fleet with this state-of-the-art technology.\u201d\n\nMaritime Administrator Carmel noted: \u201cThis agreement with the Port of Corpus Christi demonstrates that the leading energy port in the nation understands the significance of this technology. SMR integration has the potential to drive down costs and guarantee that our critical Gulf Coast maritime supply chains remain resilient against any contingency, from extreme weather to power grid disruptions, while training the next generation of high-skilled American mariners.\u201d\n\nThe four pillars of MOC expand into concrete operational goals: SMR technology integration; resilient port microgrids; shoreside power architecture; and advanced vessel propulsion infrastructure.\n\nSMR technology integration \u2013 the primary objective is to evaluate how SMRs can be physically and legally safely housed within a major commercial hub. The port signed a complementary study with UK ship-based nuclear company Core Power to evaluate the feasibility of hosting floating nuclear barges. Power generated from SMRs will support both port operations and the surrounding industrial complex, which is heavily reliant on petroleum and LNG production. Initial phases will map out safety perimeters, emergency handling, and legal compliance required for commercial nuclear facilities.\n\nResilient port microgrids \u2013 major Gulf Coast ports face severe vulnerabilities from weather anomalies and external energy blackouts. The integration of SMRs intends to sever the port\u2019s dependence on the main Texas electrical grid. The targeted microgrid architecture will isolate port power, ensuring critical supply chain operations remain active during hurricanes or regional grid collapses. The baseload power provided by SMRs will ensure steady energy supply required for massive industrial operations.\n\nShoreside power architecture \u2013 \u201ccold ironing\u201d or plugging ships into the port electrical grid while docked, requires vast amounts of clean electricity. The research outlines shore-based support infrastructure needed to service nuclear-powered commercial ships when they call on the port. SMR power grids will connect directly to docks, enabling ships to shut down diesel auxiliary engines and transition to zero-emission shore power smoothly.\n\nAdvanced vessel propulsion infrastructure \u2013 the ultimate long-term horizon for the Department of Transportation is transforming commercial shipping logistics. The study will examine what a port needs to refuel, service, and maintain civilian vessels propelled by onboard marine SMRs. Rather than immediate deployment, this groundwork maps the future supply chain requirements for a new, modernised domestic merchant fleet. The agreement explicitly outlines joint technical training programmes to educate the next generation of American mariners and port technicians in nuclear maritime tech.\n\nEarlier in August, Core Power issued its response to Marad\u2019s original SMR request for information outlining the company\u2019s Project Pathfinder programme for designing, building, and placing into service a US-flagged nuclear-powered commercial vessel. The Port of Corpus Christi has now signed a memorandum of collaboration with Core Power to study opportunities for firm, reliable power from floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) and readiness for future calls by nuclear-powered commercial ships.\n\nThe study evaluates how a major energy gateway prepares for two distinct scenarios: hosting a FNPP to supply power to the port and region and serving as a safe harbour/gateway for nuclear-powered commercial ships. Core Power will use the busy Texas petroleum and LNG export hub to map out practical requirements such as grid connections, customer needs, predictable transit routes, and berthing arrangements. The initiative aligns with Core Power\u2019s broader Liberty programme, which targets bringing commercial floating nuclear power to the US market by the mid-2030s.\n\n\u201cPort Corpus Christi, as the preeminent energy gateway in North America, is committed to remaining a leader in the global energy marketplace, even as that marketplace expands and evolves, said Jeff Pollack, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority. This collaboration will help us understand what would be required technically, environmentally, operationally and commercially for floating nuclear power plants and future calls by nuclear-powered commercial ships to be considered in the real-world context of the Port. It is about gathering evidence and keeping our region competitive for future investment, industry, and high-value jobs.\u201d\n\nCore Power CEO Mikal B\u00f8e noted: \u201cPorts are where energy systems and global trade meet. For floating nuclear power plants, we need to understand sites, grids, customers, operating models and long-term service arrangements. For nuclear-powered commercial ships, we need safe and predictable pathways for transit, berthing and routine port operations. Port Corpus Christi gives us a real operating environment in which to assess both pathways separately, but as parts of the complete industrial and regulatory system needed to make maritime nuclear commercially deployable. This is how we move from promising technology to products and infrastructure capable of supporting US energy and maritime competitiveness.\u201d\n\nCore Power said the proposed work covers two related but distinct product pathways. Under the Energy track, the parties intend to assess the site-specific technical, environmental, regulatory, operational and commercial requirements for the potential deployment of an FNPP. The work is expected to consider marine and site conditions, water use and discharge, grid connection, potential customer and offtake requirements, candidate locations and mooring, safety and security, permitting, operations, maintenance and long-term service support.\n\nUnder the Propulsion track, the parties intend to examine what would be required for the Port to receive nuclear-powered commercial ships safely and routinely in the future. The work is expected to consider a reference vessel and power-system envelope, transit and berthing, port-stay safety and security, cargo interfaces, emergency preparedness, liability, classification and the roles of U.S. and international maritime and nuclear authorities.\n\nUK-based Core Power formally entered the US market in November 2021 when it established its US subsidiary, Core Power (US) and opened its first American office in Washington DC. This move was specifically designed to begin direct engagement with US maritime and nuclear regulators, such as NRC. Around the same time, Core Power teamed up with major American energy players Southern Company and TerraPower on a Molten Chloride Fast Reactor project, which secured cost-share funding from DOE.\n\nIn February 2025 Core Power drastically upscaled its US footprint. At a summit in Houston, Texas B\u00f8e announced a \u201cUS-anchored\u201d maritime civil nuclear programme under which the company committed to building its primary manufacturing yard for Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs) inside the US.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cloud.house.gov/posts/texas-port-looks-to-smrs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1198440808802843, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}