The Watts Bar Dam site in Spring City, Tenn., taken from across the dam inside the Meigs County line off state Highway 68. Photo by Kimberly McMillian

SPRING CITY, Tenn. - The Tennessee Valley Authority has received a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to bring fuel to the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant for use in the Unit 2 reactor now under construction, according to a news release.

The license allows TVA to receive, inspect and store new nuclear fuel at the site for Unit 2, which is scheduled to come online next year.

"Receiving the license that permits delivery of new fuel is an important milestone for TVA," said Dave Stinson, TVA vice president of Watts Bar Unit 2. "Having fuel ready to load into the new unit is critical as we approach the last year of construction."

The license allows the plant to take possession of "special nuclear material," including fuel assemblies.

New fuel will begin arriving at Watts Bar in late June and continue through August. Loading fuel is expected to begin next summer.