NRC Approves Construction Permit for Four X-Energy Reactors in Texas

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a construction permit Monday, Nov. 9, for four X-energy Xe-100 reactors at a Dow chemical plant in Texas, advancing plans for the company’s first commercial reactors.

Each reactor can generate 80 megawatts of electricity and 200 megawatts of heat. The approval is the first for an advanced nuclear reactor at a U.S. industrial site.

No small modular reactor currently operates in the United States. The Texas units are not expected to enter operation until the early 2030s.

Small modular reactor proponents expect the smaller designs to shorten construction timelines and reduce costs, though those benefits have yet to be proven. TokenPost previously covered the project as it neared a construction permit.