Washington Xe-100 reactor site
{{Infobox power station
| name =
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| coordinates = {{coord|46.466|N|119.313|W|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}{{cite web|title=Subsurface Investigation Approach – Xe-100 Project on Former WNP-1 Site|publisher=Energy Northwest|via=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission|last1=Gregoire|first1=Don|last2=Gorden|first2=Milton|year=c. 2022|url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2204/ML22049A036.pdf}}
| country = United States
| location = Benton County, near Richland, Washington
| status = P
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| owner = Energy Northwest
| operator = Energy Northwest
| np_reactor_type = Helium cooled HTGR
| np_reactor_supplier = X-energy
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| ps_units_manu_model = Xe-100
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| ps_units_planned = 12
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| ps_electrical_capacity = 960 MW total
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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.{{Cite news|title=Next-gen nuclear reactor company signs deal to build up to 12 reactors in Washington state|first=Lisa|last=Stiffler|date=July 19, 2023|publisher=Geekwire|via=MSN|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/next-gen-nuclear-reactor-company-signs-deal-to-build-up-to-12-reactors-in-washington-state/ar-AA1e5Gwc|accessdate=July 21, 2023}} The operator will be Energy Northwest, the operator of Columbia Generating Station, the only nuclear power station in the Pacific Northwest.{{cite news|work=The Columbian|location=Vancouver, Washington|title=Energy Northwest signs deal for nuclear project in Central Washington|first=Lauren|last=Ellenbecker|date=July 20, 2023|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/jul/20/energy-northwest-signs-deal-for-nuclear-project-in-central-washington/|quote=the small modular reactor project will be developed adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, the region's only commercial nuclear energy facility|accessdate=July 21, 2023}}
Amazon.com involvement
In late October, 2024, Amazon.com announced it would fund construction of four X-Energy reactors at Hanford.{{cite news|title=Amazon funding construction of 4 nuclear reactors on the Columbia River|publisher=KPTV|location=Portland|date=October 28, 2024|url=https://www.kptv.com/2024/10/28/amazon-funding-construction-4-nuclear-reactors-columbia-river/}}
Opposition
The site is opposed by environmental groups including Columbia River Keeper,{{cite web|title=Nuclear Energy Development Q&A: Threatens the Columbia River|publisher=Columbia River Keeper|url=https://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/2021.9.14%20FINAL%20SMR%20Report.pdf|access-date=July 21, 2023}} and the Oregon Conservancy Foundation who oppose new small modular reactors in general.{{cite news|work=The Nation|title=The Pacific Northwest Is Experiencing an Atomic Energy Renaissance|first=Joshua|last=Frank|date=July 20, 2023|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/atomic-bamboozle-nuscale/|accessdate=July 21, 2023}} 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.
References
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{Cite news|title=Central Washington to be site of new, small nuclear reactors|first=Michael|last=LeCompte|date=July 19, 2023|publisher=Nonstop Local (KHQ Television Group)|location=Kennewick, Washington|url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/central-washington-to-be-site-of-new-small-nuclear-reactors/article_1f9a5c52-2668-11ee-8256-2fd135e87194.html|accessdate=July 21, 2023}}
Further reading
- {{cite news|work=The Seattle Times|title=This next-generation nuclear power plant is pitched for Washington state. Can it 'change the world'?|date=November 8, 2021|first=Hal|last=Bernton|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/this-next-generation-nuclear-power-plant-is-pitched-for-washington-state-can-it-change-the-world/|accessdate=July 21, 2023}}
External links
- [https://www.energy-northwest.com/energyprojects/Pages/default.aspx Energy Northwest projects]
Category:Proposed nuclear power stations in the United States
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