NRC Advances Review of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Project in Texas

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed its environmental assessment for the proposed Long Mott Generating Station ahead of schedule, advancing the review process for a planned advanced nuclear reactor facility at Dow Chemical's Seadrift site near Port Lavaca, Texas.

According to the NRC, the agency determined that an environmental assessment was sufficient for the project instead of requiring a more extensive environmental impact statement. Officials said the decision reflects the facility's relatively limited environmental footprint and its location within an existing industrial site.

"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 NRC stated that its safety review of the construction permit application is expected to be completed later this year under the 18-month timeline established by Executive Order 14300. A final agency decision on the permit would follow the review process.

The proposed Long Mott facility, developed by Long Mott Energy LLC, would feature four advanced reactors using X-energy's Xe-100 reactor technology.

Each reactor is expected to generate approximately 80 megawatts of electricity while also supplying industrial heat and steam to improve operations at Dow's manufacturing complex.

"This is a significant milestone for the Long Mott Energy project," said Edward Stones, Dow's business vice president for Energy & Climate.

X-energy executive Dragan Popovic added that the review process demonstrates the company's focus on "technology designed to be intrinsically safe."

The project is being developed under the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and is expected to become the first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor serving an industrial site in North America.

The NRC's environmental review marks a major step forward for the Long Mott Generating Station, highlighting growing momentum behind advanced nuclear energy projects aimed at supporting industrial operations, grid reliability, and domestic energy production.