The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for the Long Mott Generating Station, a planned four-reactor project at Dow’s Seadrift site on the Texas Gulf Coast. Long Mott Energy, a Dow subsidiary, submitted the application, while X-energy is leading the technology and licensing work. The planned Xe-100 small modular reactor plant would produce up to 320 megawatts of electricity and provide high-temperature steam for chemical production.
What it means
Each Xe-100 reactor is designed to generate 80 megawatts, for 320 megawatts across the four-unit Long Mott plant. The NRC completed its permit review in 18 months, and the permit identifies July 1, 2033, as the earliest completion date.
Dow plans to consider a preliminary investment decision in 2027. Full construction would require a final investment decision, and the project would also need a separate NRC operating license before the reactors could begin operating. The four reactors are expected to operate for 60 years once in service.
X-energy described the approval as the first U.S. construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in nearly 60 years. The company said the project and its Tennessee fuel-fabrication facility have about $2.15 billion in federal support.
Key facts
- Long Mott Generating Station is planned for Dow’s Seadrift site on the Texas Gulf Coast.
- Long Mott Energy, a Dow subsidiary, is the construction-permit applicant.
- The project includes four X-energy Xe-100 small modular reactors.
- Each Xe-100 is designed for 80 megawatts of electricity, or 320 megawatts in total.
- The NRC review took 18 months.
- The permit sets July 1, 2033, as the earliest completion date.
- Dow plans to consider a preliminary investment decision in 2027.
- The project’s emergency planning zone is 400 meters.
Source: Trending Topics, reporting an NRC construction permit