The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental assessment of the proposed Long Mott Generating Station ahead of schedule, marking a key milestone in the review of an advanced X-energy nuclear reactor facility at Dow Chemical’s Seadrift site in Port Lavaca, Texas, it said on May 18.
The agency determined that an environmental assessment, rather than a more extensive environmental impact statement, better addresses the project’s limited environmental footprint at an existing industrial location.
This approach allows for a more efficient review while maintaining rigorous environmental standards, it noted.
“This milestone demonstrates that we can complete our reviews efficiently, enabling new reactor projects while upholding our responsibility to protect people and the environment,” said NRC Executive Director for Operations Mike King. “Using an environmental assessment in this case reflects the project’s relatively low potential for environmental impacts and helps provide a more predictable path forward.”
The agency expects to complete its safety review of the construction permit application later this year, consistent with the 18-month timeline required by Executive Order 14300.
A final agency decision on the permit would follow. Long Mott Energy LLC’s construction permit application proposes a four-reactor facility using X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design. Each reactor would generate approximately 80 megawatts of electricity, as well as heat to enhance the Dow Chemical plant’s efficiency.
If approved, the construction permit would authorize building the facility but not its operation. The company would need to submit a separate application for operating licenses. Long Mott Energy submitted the application March 31, 2025, and the NRC’s environmental review began June 10, 2025.
Energy Northwest, a Washington State Joint Action Agency, noted on May 21 the latest milestone at Dow’s Long Mott Generating Station “helps clear the path for future deployments — including our Cascade Advanced Energy Facility.”
In 2024, Energy Northwest announced an agreement with Amazon and X energy to build up to 12 small modular reactors, called the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, near Columbia Generating Station, the Pacific Northwest’s only commercial nuclear power plant.
The Cascade facility is expected to create up to 1,000 temporary construction jobs and at least 100 permanent positions once fully operational. This effort is part of the agency’s broader strategy to expand reliable, carbon free energy resources for the region.
