Dow proposes advanced nuclear reactors to power Texas manufacturing plant

In the United States, specifically Texas, Dow, a prominent chemicals and plastics producer, is seeking to power its manufacturing complex by utilizing next-generation nuclear reactors. This initiative is part of a broader effort to transition from natural gas, aiming to replace it with clean power and steam generation. Long Mott Energy, a subsidiary of Dow, submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on a recent Monday, indicating the project's potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 500,000 metric tons annually. The proposal is being developed in collaboration with X-energy, a company specializing in advanced nuclear reactor and fuel technologies. If the construction and operation of these reactors move forward as planned, they will mark a pivotal point in U.S. industrial energy usage, being the first commercial advanced nuclear power plant tailored for an industrial site per the NRC’s statements. In light of increasing electricity demands due to the escalating activities surrounding data centers, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing, nuclear power is often regarded as a viable solution to meet these energy requirements and mitigate the severe impacts of climate change. Despite this optimistic outlook, significant safety and security concerns persist, as emphasized by the Union of Concerned Scientists, alongside the unresolved issue of hazardous nuclear waste storage in the U.S. This revolutionary project is poised to generate up to 320 megawatts of electricity or 800 megawatts of thermal power from the proposed reactors. J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy, has expressed that this initiative will showcase the capacity of modern nuclear technology to satisfy the burgeoning demand for electricity. Edward Stones, the vice president of energy and climate at Dow, underscored that submitting the permit application is a crucial milestone in broadening access to safe, clean, and reliable nuclear energy in the United States. The project receives support from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, with the NRC estimating its review process may take three years or less. This innovative venture fits into a larger context where advanced nuclear reactors are gaining traction as an attractive alternative to traditional energy sources, bolstered by recent commitments from major tech companies like Amazon, which aim to deploy over 5 gigawatts of new nuclear power projects nationwide by the year 2039. The involvement of numerous applicants seeking construction permits for advanced reactors illustrates a vibrant shift in how energy demands are being addressed in the U.S., even as the safe integration of nuclear power continues to be debated among experts and the public alike.