Washington Xe-100 reactor site explained

Coordinates:	46.466°N -119.313°W^[1]
Country:	United States
Location:	Benton County, near Richland, Washington
Status:	P
Owner:	Energy Northwest
Operator:	Energy Northwest
Np Reactor Type:	Helium cooled HTGR
Np Reactor Supplier:	X-energy
Ps Units Manu Model:	Xe-100
Ps Units Planned:	12
Ps Electrical Capacity:	960 MW total

A number of Xe-100 small modular reactors designed by X-energy are planned to be installed for nuclear electric power production near the Columbia Generating Station in Washington by the 2030s. It would be X-energy's second power plant after one in Texas due to be finished by 2030.^[2] The operator will be Energy Northwest, the operator of Columbia Generating Station, the only nuclear power station in the Pacific Northwest.^[3]

Opposition

The site is opposed by environmental groups including Columbia River Keeper,^[4] and the Oregon Conservancy Foundation who oppose new small modular reactors in general.^[5] Columbia River Keeper states that Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation opposed X-energy's application for a Department of Energy license to operate at the Hanford Site.^[4]

References

Sources

• News: Central Washington to be site of new, small nuclear reactors. Michael. LeCompte. July 19, 2023. Nonstop Local (KHQ Television Group). Kennewick, Washington. July 21, 2023.

Further reading

• News: The Seattle Times. This next-generation nuclear power plant is pitched for Washington state. Can it 'change the world'?. November 8, 2021. Hal. Bernton. July 21, 2023.

External links

• Energy Northwest projects

Notes and References

1. Web site: Subsurface Investigation Approach – Xe-100 Project on Former WNP-1 Site. Energy Northwest. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Gregoire. Don. Gorden. Milton. c. 2022.
2. News: Next-gen nuclear reactor company signs deal to build up to 12 reactors in Washington state. Lisa. Stiffler. July 19, 2023. Geekwire. MSN. July 21, 2023.
3. News: The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. Energy Northwest signs deal for nuclear project in Central Washington. Lauren. Ellenbecker. July 20, 2023. the small modular reactor project will be developed adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, the region's only commercial nuclear energy facility. July 21, 2023.
4. Web site: Nuclear Energy Development Q&A: Threatens the Columbia River. Columbia River Keeper. July 21, 2023.
5. News: The Nation. The Pacific Northwest Is Experiencing an Atomic Energy Renaissance. Joshua. Frank. July 20, 2023. July 21, 2023.