Industrial giant Dow and X-Energy Reactor Company have officially submitted a construction license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for an advanced small modular reactor (SMR) project at Dow’s Seadrift site in Texas.

Advancing Clean and Reliable Industrial Power

First announced in May 2023, the SMR project is being developed by Dow’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Long Mott Energy LLC. The primary goal is to provide Dow’s Union Carbide Corporation Seadrift Operations site with safe, reliable, and clean power while replacing aging energy and steam assets. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, which accelerates advanced reactor deployment through cost-sharing partnerships with the industry.

Regulatory and Safety Considerations

Since 2018, X-energy and later Dow have engaged extensively with the NRC to demonstrate the safety profile of the Xe-100 advanced SMR, focusing on its advanced fuel design, passive safety features, and modern analysis techniques.

“This has culminated in a comprehensive application submittal that exceeds NRC regulations for the protection of public health and safety, as well as the environment, with substantial safety features,” the partners said in a joint statement.

Receiving the permit could take up to 30 months, after which Dow will assess the feasibility of the project before proceeding with construction.

Key Stakeholders Weigh In

Industry leaders have emphasized the importance of the project for expanding nuclear energy access in the U.S.

“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 and Climate at Dow. “We look forward to engaging with the NRC, DOE, our business partners, and the community throughout the application process.”

“The construction permit application is a critical step to deliver on the vision of Congress and DOE to position the U.S. at the forefront of commercializing advanced reactor technology,” added X-energy CEO Clay Sell. “Together with our world-class partner, Dow, we will demonstrate how the technology deployed at Seadrift, Texas, can be quickly and efficiently replicated to meet incredible power demand growth across America.”

A Milestone for Industrial-Scale Nuclear Power

Upon completion, the Long Mott Generating Station will be North America's first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor dedicated to industrial applications.

Each Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor operates as a standalone 80 MWe unit and can be optimized as a four-unit plant delivering 320 MWe across a 30-acre site. The reactors are designed to provide either baseload power for the electricity grid or 200 MW of high-temperature steam per unit for industrial use.

Reducing Carbon Emissions at Seadrift

Dow’s Seadrift facility spans 4,700 acres and produces over 1,816 tonnes of materials annually for industries such as food packaging, footwear, solar cell membranes, and pharmaceuticals. Around 1,000 people work at the site.

The companies estimate that the SMR project will reduce Seadrift’s emissions by approximately 440,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year, aligning with Dow’s broader sustainability goals.

Industry-Wide Commitment to Nuclear Expansion

Dow was among several major corporations that recently signed the Large Energy Users Pledge at CERAWeek 2025 in Houston, Texas, supporting the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050.

X-energy has been at the forefront of SMR development, having secured $1.1 billion in private capital and completed engineering and preliminary designs for the Xe-100 reactor and TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

This project marks a major step toward commercializing advanced nuclear technology, ensuring a sustainable, low-carbon energy future for industrial applications.

Originally reported by World Nuclear News.