Dow Seeks Nuclear Power Permit for Texas Chemical Plant
Dow’s Long Mott Energy aims to power its Seadrift site with X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors.
MANUFACTURING 🏭ENERGY ⚡️FEATURED
Seadrift, TX — Dow, a leading chemical producer, wants to power its Seadrift Operations in Texas with nuclear energy, filing a construction permit application through its subsidiary Long Mott Energy with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on March 31, 2025. If approved, the project would mark the first U.S. commercial advanced nuclear power plant at an industrial site, replacing aging natural gas assets.
The Details:
Project Scope: Dow plans to install four X-energy Xe-100 small modular reactors, delivering up to 320 MW of electricity or 800 MW of thermal power for steam.
Site Impact: The 4,700-acre Seadrift plant produces over 4 billion pounds of chemicals yearly, like plastics for packaging and glycols for antifreeze.
Timeline: The NRC review could take up to three years, with construction possibly starting by late 2028 and operations by the early 2030s.
NRC Activity: The NRC recently issued a permit to Abilene Christian University for a research reactor, the first such approval in 30+ years.
Support: The project is backed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Why It Matters:
Dow’s move could set a precedent for commercial nuclear energy, cutting emissions while meeting rising energy demands.
The Catch:
Approval isn’t guaranteed, and local opposition could delay progress—watch for NRC updates.