Dow’s proposed advanced small modular reactor (SMR) project, spearheaded by its wholly owned subsidiary Long Mott Energy LLC, is progressing with the submission of a construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The project aims to provide Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations site in Texas with safe, reliable, and clean energy, replacing aging energy and steam infrastructure with next-generation nuclear technology.
The initiative is backed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which supports cost-shared partnerships to accelerate deployment of advanced reactors in the U.S. energy landscape.
Since 2018, X-energy and, subsequently, Dow have collaborated with the NRC through extensive pre-application engagement, showcasing the robust safety credentials of the Xe-100 advanced SMR. The reactor features advanced TRISO-X fuel, passive safety systems, and cutting-edge modeling techniques. The resulting permit application exceeds regulatory standards for public health, safety, and environmental protection.
Approval of the construction permit—expected to take up to 30 months—will mark a major milestone. Upon receiving the permit and confirming the project’s financial viability, Dow could begin construction. The company anticipates that energy costs, net of available subsidies, will remain competitive with other clean, firm power options.
“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 at Dow. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the NRC, DOE, our business partners, and the local community throughout this process.”
“The construction permit application is a critical step in delivering on the vision of Congress and DOE to position the U.S. as a global leader in advanced nuclear technology,” added J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “Together with Dow, we will demonstrate how this technology can be rapidly scaled to meet growing power demands across America.”
If approved, the project is expected to begin construction later this decade, with operations potentially starting in the early 2030s. The new nuclear power and steam assets are projected to eliminate most Scope 1 and 2 emissions at the Seadrift site, enhancing its long-term competitiveness.
X-energy was selected by the DOE in 2020 to develop, license, and build a Xe-100 advanced SMR and a TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility. Since then, the company has completed preliminary engineering of the reactor, begun licensing for the fuel facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and raised approximately $1.1 billion in private capital to advance commercialization. Upon completion, the Long Mott Generating Station is expected to be North America’s first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor serving an industrial site.
Dow’s Seadrift site spans 4,700 acres and produces over 4 billion pounds of materials annually, serving industries ranging from food packaging and footwear to solar technology and medical products.