- Project supported by U.S. DOE's Advanced Reactor
Demonstration Program
- Represents a key milestone toward bringing advanced nuclear
energy to fruition in the U.S.
MIDLAND, Mich. and ROCKVILLE, Md., March 31,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dow (NYSE: DOW) and
X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC ("X-energy") announced the submission
of a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission ("NRC") for a proposed advanced nuclear project in
Seadrift, Texas.
Dow's proposed advanced small modular reactor ("SMR") project is
being developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Long Mott Energy
LLC. The project is focused on providing Dow's UCC1
Seadrift Operations manufacturing site ("Seadrift" or the "site") with safe, reliable,
and clean power and industrial steam replacing existing energy and
steam assets that are near end-of-life. The project is supported by
the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Reactor
Demonstration Program ("ARDP") which is designed to accelerate the
deployment of advanced reactors through cost-shared partnerships
with U.S. industry.
Since 2018, X-energy, and subsequently Dow, have worked with the
NRC through extensive pre-application engagements to demonstrate
the unparalleled safety profile of the Xe-100 advanced SMR through
its advanced fuel design, passive safety features, and
state-of-the-art analysis techniques. This has culminated in a
comprehensive application submittal that exceeds NRC regulations
for the protection of public health and safety, as well as the
environment, with substantial safety features.
Approval of the construction permit is an important step forward
that could take up to 30 months. Once the permit is received and
upon Dow confirming the ability to deliver the project while
achieving its financial return targets, construction could begin.
Dow expects the cost of energy ‐ net of all subsidies
‐ to be competitive with other alternatives for firm, clean
energy.
"This is an important next step in expanding access to safe,
clean, reliable, cost-competitive nuclear energy in the U.S.," said
Edward Stones, business vice
president, Energy & Climate, Dow. "We look forward to engaging
with the NRC, DOE, our business partners and the community
throughout the application process."
"The construction permit application is a critical step to
deliver on the vision of Congress and DOE to position the U.S. at
the forefront of commercializing advanced reactor technology," said
J. Clay Sell, chief executive
officer of X-energy. "Together with our world-class partner, Dow,
we will demonstrate how the technology deployed at Seadrift, Texas, can be quickly and
efficiently replicated to meet incredible power demand growth
across America."
The proposed project could begin construction later this decade
and start up early next decade. The nuclear power and steam assets
would eliminate most Scope 1 and 2 emissions at the site and ensure
the site remains competitively advantaged for the life of the
facility.
X-energy was selected by the DOE in 2020 to develop, license,
and build an operational Xe-100 advanced SMR and TRISO-X fuel
fabrication facility. Since that award, X-energy has completed the
engineering and preliminary design of the nuclear reactor, has
begun development and licensing of a fuel fabrication facility in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and has
secured approximately $1.1 billion in
private capital to commercialize its technology. Once complete,
Long Mott Generating Station is expected to be the first grid-scale
advanced nuclear reactor deployed to serve an industrial site in
North America.
Dow's Seadrift site covers
4,700 acres and manufactures more than 4 billion pounds of
materials per year used across a wide variety of applications
including food packaging and preservation, footwear, wire and cable
insulation, solar cell membranes, and packaging for medical and
pharmaceutical products.
Available pictures for download:
XE-100 reactor
Plant rendering
Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world's leading
materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth
markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer
applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale,
focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to
sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help
deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in
30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people. Dow
delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024.
References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its
subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most
innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials
science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.
About X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC
X-Energy Reactor
Company, LLC, is a leading developer of advanced small modular
nuclear reactors and fuel technology for clean energy generation
that is redefining the nuclear energy industry through its
development of safer and more efficient advanced small modular
nuclear reactors and proprietary fuel to deliver reliable,
zero-carbon and affordable energy to people around the world.
X-energy's simplified, modular, and intrinsically safe SMR design
expands applications and markets for deployment of nuclear
technology and drives enhanced safety, lower cost and faster
construction timelines when compared with other SMRs and
conventional nuclear. For more information, visit X-energy.com or
connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Dow
Investors:
Andrew Riker
ajriker@dow.com
+1 989-633-5564
Media:
Sarah Young
media@dow.com
+1-989.638.6871
X-energy
Media:
Robert McEntyre
240.673.6565
inquiries@x-energy.com
1 Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company
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SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company
