X-energy has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to construct four small modular nuclear reactors at a Dow chemical manufacturing facility in Texas. Announced on November 9, 2026, the approval represents the first construction permit for an advanced nuclear reactor at an industrial site in the United States.
According to X-energy’s official announcement, the proposed reactors will each generate up to 80 megawatts of electricity and 200 megawatts of thermal power. The four-unit facility, known as the Long Mott Generating Station, is planned for Dow’s Seadrift manufacturing complex.
X-Energy Advances Small Modular Reactor Development
The project will use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors, which are designed to provide electricity and high-temperature industrial steam. Unlike conventional nuclear reactors that use water for cooling, the Xe-100 circulates helium gas over fuel containing uranium particles.
X-energy says its reactor design incorporates safety features intended to reduce the risk of overheating and radioactive material release. However, these claimed advantages have yet to be demonstrated through commercial operation in the United States.
The construction permit allows the project to advance toward development, but it does not authorize the reactors to begin operating. Dow must still make a final investment decision, and the facility will require a separate NRC operating license before starting commercial operations.
The reactors are not expected to become operational until the early 2030s.
Nuclear Safety Group Questions Approval Process
The Union of Concerned Scientists has raised concerns over the speed of the regulatory review and whether important safety questions received sufficient consideration. Edwin Lyman, the organization’s director of nuclear power safety, criticized the NRC for approving construction before resolving what he described as critical safety issues.
The NRC said its review included safety and environmental assessments of the proposed facility. The agency described the approval as its first construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in nearly 60 years.
Supporters of small modular reactors argue that their smaller size could simplify construction and reduce development costs. However, those potential advantages remain largely unproven in the U.S. market, where no commercial small modular reactors are currently operating.
Amazon Backs X-Energy’s Nuclear Expansion
X-energy has attracted investment from technology companies seeking additional electricity supplies for AI data centers. Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund previously led a $500 million Series C-1 funding round, while Amazon has also committed to purchasing up to 5 gigawatts of generating capacity from future X-energy projects.
The company raised approximately $1 billion through its initial public offering in April 2026, benefiting from investor interest in advanced nuclear technology. However, X-energy shares have since fallen to less than half their initial offering price amid concerns over construction costs and lengthy development schedules.
The latest construction approval briefly lifted X-energy’s shares, although the increase largely offset losses recorded during the previous week. Dow is expected to consider a preliminary investment decision in 2027 before determining whether to proceed with full-scale construction.
Featured image credits: Magnific.com
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