Dow, a big company that makes chemicals and plastics, wants to power and heat a factory in Texas with next-generation nuclear reactors instead of natural gas.
Long Mott Energy, a company owned by Dow, asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a building permit on Monday. It said that the project with X-energy, an advanced nuclear reactor and fuel company, would almost completely cut down on the pollution caused by making power and steam at its plant in Seadrift, Texas. Each year, the project would save about 500,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases that warm the world.
The NRC says that if it is built and runs as planned, it will be the first commercial advanced nuclear power plant in the U.S. for an industry site.
Many people see nuclear power as a way to meet the country’s rising energy needs, which are caused by the growth of data centers, AI, manufacturing, and electrification, as well as to stop the worst effects of climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists warns, though, that there are safety and security issues. It’s also not clear how to store dangerous nuclear waste in the United States.
Dow wants to buy four of the Xe-100, which is an advanced small modular reactor from X-energy. All of those together could provide up to 800 megawatts of thermal power or 320 megawatts of energy. CEO of X-energy J. Clay Sell said the project would show how new nuclear technology can keep up with the huge rise in demand for power.
About 4,700 acres make up the Seadrift industrial complex. Eight of the plants are owned by Dow and one is owned by Braskem. Dow makes plastics there for many things, like packaging for food and drinks and insulating wires and cables. They also make glycols for antifreeze, polyester fabrics and bottles, and oxide derivatives for beauty and health goods.
Business vice president of energy and climate at Dow, Edward Stones, said that applying for the permit is an important next step toward giving more people in the US access to safe, clean, dependable, and cost-effective nuclear energy. The Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program of the Department of Energy helps fund the project.
The NRC thinks the review will be over in three years or less. If a permit is granted, building could start at the end of this decade. The reactors would be ready early in the 2030s, when the natural gas-fired equipment is taken out of service.
Four different people have asked the NRC for building permits for advanced nuclear plants. The NRC gave permission to Abilene Christian University to build a research reactor and to Kairos Power to build one reactor and two test versions of designs made by that company. Bill Gates and his energy business, TerraPower, have asked to build an advanced reactor in Wyoming. The government is now looking into their application.
X-energy is also working with Amazon to start more than 5 gigawatts of new nuclear power projects in Washington state and then spread them across the US by 2039. To meet the growing demand from data centers and AI and to help fight climate change, Amazon and other tech giants have promised to use green energy.
