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NRC Issues Construction Permit for X-energy's Texas SMR Project, Raising Safety Concerns

NRC Issues Construction Permit for X-energy's Texas SMR Project, Raising Safety Concerns

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted a construction permit to X-energy for its four small modular reactor (SMR) project in Texas. This marks the first time in over 50 years that a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor has received such a permit, and it is the third advanced reactor permit issued by the NRC this year. The project, planned for Seadrift, Texas, will power Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operation manufacturing facility, which currently relies on natural gas. X-energy aims to have the first of its Xe-100 SMR reactors online by the early 2030s. The construction permit application, filed by Dow’s subsidiary Long Mott Energy in March 2025, received a streamlined licensing review. However, Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, has criticized the decision as a 'reckless approval,' citing concerns about the reactor design's lack of a physical containment structure and unproven safety functions.
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Oklo's Groves-1 Test Reactor Receives Full DOE Clearance for Unrestricted Operations, Advancing Nuclear Research and Training

Oklo's Groves-1 Test Reactor Receives Full DOE Clearance for Unrestricted Operations, Advancing Nuclear Research and Training

Oklo Inc. has received full operational clearance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor, known as Groves-1, located in Texas. This approval allows the advanced nuclear company to begin unrestricted research, equipment testing, and staff training at the facility. Groves-1 achieved first criticality in August 2026 under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program, marking it as the first project under this federal program to reach this milestone on private land and demonstrating the ability to bring a nuclear project from groundbreaking to operational readiness in less than a year. The reactor will now serve as a working laboratory to evaluate technologies and operating procedures for future isotope reactors and Oklo's Aurora fast fission powerhouses.
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CenterPoint Energy Enhances Outage Alert System for Millions of U.S. Customers

CenterPoint Energy Enhances Outage Alert System for Millions of U.S. Customers

CenterPoint Energy, a major utility infrastructure provider in the United States, has significantly advanced its outage alert system to better serve millions of customers across states including Texas, Indiana, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Particularly in the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint acts as the primary Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), managing the physical infrastructure that delivers power. The enhanced system, known as the Power Alert Service (PAS), provides real-time updates on outages via SMS text, email, or phone calls. These alerts detail the cause of the outage, the number of affected customers, and the Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR). The sophistication of these alerts is largely due to the integration of Advanced Metering System (AMS) technology, or 'smart meters,' which communicate directly with CenterPoint’s operations center, often reporting power failures before customers are aware. This automated data flow enables a more precise response to grid failures and forms the...
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X-energy Reports Strong Q3 2026 Results, Advances Advanced Nuclear Reactor and Fuel Technology

X-energy Reports Strong Q3 2026 Results, Advances Advanced Nuclear Reactor and Fuel Technology

X-energy Reports Strong Q3 2026 Results, Advances Advanced Nuclear Reactor and Fuel Technology
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Landmark Construction Permit for Dow Chemical's Texas SMR Plant

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Landmark Construction Permit for Dow Chemical's Texas SMR Plant

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Landmark Construction Permit for Dow Chemical's Texas SMR Plant
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves Construction Permit for X-energy's Small Modular Reactors at Dow Site

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves Construction Permit for X-energy's Small Modular Reactors at Dow Site

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves Construction Permit for X-energy's Small Modular Reactors at Dow Site
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X-energy and Dow Receive NRC Construction Permit for Four Xe-100 SMRs in Texas

X-energy and Dow Receive NRC Construction Permit for Four Xe-100 SMRs in Texas

X-energy and Dow Receive NRC Construction Permit for Four Xe-100 SMRs in Texas
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NRC Approves Construction Permit for Dow's Xe-100 Nuclear Plant in Texas

NRC Approves Construction Permit for Dow's Xe-100 Nuclear Plant in Texas

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a construction permit for the Long Mott Generating Station, an advanced nuclear power plant planned at Dow's Seadrift manufacturing complex in Texas. This approval marks a significant regulatory milestone, being the first U.S. construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor in nearly 60 years. The facility, developed by Long Mott Energy (a Dow subsidiary) in collaboration with X-energy, will feature four Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMRs). Each reactor is designed to produce 80 MWe of electrical output and approximately 200 MWt of thermal output, totaling 320 MWe and 800 MWt. The plant aims to supply both electricity and high-temperature steam directly to Dow's industrial operations, replacing aging energy and steam-generation assets. The Xe-100 reactor uses helium as its primary coolant and graphite as its neutron moderator, with TRISO-X coated particle fuel in a pebble-bed core, allowing for online refueling. This project is part of ...
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Texas Gulf Coast Sees Major LNG Infrastructure Expansion Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Texas Gulf Coast Sees Major LNG Infrastructure Expansion Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Texas Gulf Coast Sees Major LNG Infrastructure Expansion Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves First Advanced Nuclear Reactor Construction at Industrial Site

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves First Advanced Nuclear Reactor Construction at Industrial Site

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the construction of four Xe-100 advanced nuclear reactors by X-energy at a Texas industrial site owned by Dow Chemical. This marks the first time an advanced nuclear reactor has been approved for construction at an industrial site in the United States. The reactors, part of the Long Mott Generating Station, are designed to generate 80 megawatts of electricity and 200 megawatts of heat each, utilizing helium as a coolant to operate safely at higher temperatures. The approval process for this joint application by X-energy and Dow Chemical was completed in less than 18 months, a record pace for contested hearings, reflecting efforts to streamline U.S. nuclear regulation. The Xe-100 is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that uses advanced TRISO-X coated particle fuel, providing a safety profile that allows for a significantly smaller emergency planning zone compared to conventional light-water reactors. While the construction permit has been issued, ...
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FERC Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Corpus Christi LNG Expansion

FERC Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Corpus Christi LNG Expansion

FERC Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Corpus Christi LNG Expansion
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Oklo Inc. Receives DOE Clearance for Groves Isotope Test Reactor, Advancing Research and Training Phases

Oklo Inc. Receives DOE Clearance for Groves Isotope Test Reactor, Advancing Research and Training Phases

Oklo Inc. Receives DOE Clearance for Groves Isotope Test Reactor, Advancing Research and Training Phases