Dow, X-energy secure NRC construction permit for advanced nuclear project in Texas

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Dow, X-energy get NRC Texas nuclear permit

Highlights

U.S. NRC approved on November 9 a construction permit for Dow and X-energy’s Long Mott Generating Station, supporting up to 320 megawatts with four Xe-100 reactors.
The permit enables Dow and X-energy to finalize design, reinforce supply chains, and prepare the NRC operating license application for the Seadrift, Texas plant.
This marks the first U.S. NRC construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in over 50 years and the first approval for a pebble-bed core design.

Permit scope and project timeline

As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a construction permit on November 9 for Dow and X-energy’s proposed Long Mott Generating Station. The project is backed by the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, which is intended to speed commercial deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in the United States.

The proposed station would use four X-energy Xe-100 small modular reactors to supply electricity and high-temperature steam to Dow’s manufacturing operations in Seadrift. Each reactor is designed to produce 80 megawatts of electricity or 200 megawatts of thermal energy, allowing the four-unit facility to deliver up to 320 megawatts of electricity while supporting industrial steam demand for 60 years.

The permit allows Dow and X-energy to move the project toward construction readiness by finalizing the Xe-100 design, reinforcing the supply chain for long-lead components and preparing an operating license application for NRC review.

Implications for U.S. nuclear and industry

The approval represents several firsts for the U.S. nuclear sector. It is the first NRC construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in more than 50 years and the first NRC approval for a pebble-bed core design.

Mike Goff, principal deputy assistant secretary for nuclear energy, says the decision marks meaningful progress in bringing next-generation nuclear technologies to market. He says advanced reactors can provide reliable power and industrial heat, strengthen U.S. energy leadership and help meet rising energy demand.

X-energy’s Xe-100 uses TRISO-X fuel, which is designed to retain radioactive materials under extreme conditions beyond any credible accident scenario. The DOE says its long-term support for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and TRISO fuel research has helped build the technical base for current advanced reactor designs.

If completed, the Long Mott Generating Station would test a new industrial use case for advanced nuclear energy by delivering power and steam directly to a major manufacturing site. That model could broaden nuclear deployment beyond traditional power generation into energy-intensive industrial operations.

We have also discussed the broader context around U.S. power demand growth as utilities point to manufacturing, EVs, and electrification supporting load gains.

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