Richland, Wash.— One week after announcing the official name and concept renderings of the anticipated first-ever small modular reactor (SMR) project in Washington State, Energy Northwest is pleased to announce that it is in negotiations with Cascade Nuclear Partners (CNP), an equal joint venture comprised of Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co. (Kiewit), Black & Veatch and Aecon, to collaboratively complete the planning, design, and construction of the first four of 12 Xe-100 SMRs under a progressive design-build (PDB) model. This development phase will help define the project’s scope, schedule, and cost parameters before advancing to full execution.
“Selecting Cascade Nuclear Partners is a strategic milestone for this project, one that is built on a foundation of proven excellence,” said Bob Schuetz, Energy Northwest CEO. “Their deep expertise in nuclear construction, along with a collaborative delivery and strong alignment with Energy Northwest values ensures we have the best team in place to deliver this critical project successfully.”
Developed by X-energy, each Xe-100 SMR is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that provides 80 megawatts of electricity. This first phase of the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility will generate up to 320 megawatts through the delivery of four reactor modules and will be located adjacent to Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station near Richland, WA.
In October 2024, Energy Northwest announced a multi-year agreement with Amazon focused on comprehensive environmental, safety, permitting, licensing and risk analyses for the project. At the completion of this robust analyses, Energy Northwest is expected to submit a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Construction is anticipated to begin by the end of the decade, with operations targeted for the 2030s.
“Kiewit is very pleased to be part of Cascade Nuclear Partners and to support Energy Northwest in advancing this first-of-a-kind small modular reactor project,” said Mike Rinehart, president of Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co. “We’re looking forward to bringing our extensive engineering design, construction, and procurement expertise — safely building major energy projects in North America — to this important effort. By combining our proven experience with strong collaboration, our team is focused on delivering a project that sets a new standard for nuclear energy infrastructure. Together with our partners, we’re committed to helping provide reliable, carbon-free power that will benefit the Pacific Northwest for decades to come.”
“We’re excited to be part of this transformative joint venture enabling Energy Northwest to deliver the Xe-100 small modular nuclear reactors to support the region,” said Todd Edsall, president of Black & Veatch Power Providers. “We have more than 60 years of experience in nuclear engineering and a heritage of innovation in delivering complex projects. We are proud to bring our deep technical expertise and collaborative spirit to a project that will help shape the future of clean, reliable energy in Washington State. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to advancing resilient infrastructure and supporting the next generation of carbon-free power solutions.”
“The Energy Northwest SMR development project is an exciting undertaking, and we are pleased to expand our role in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants through one of the first SMR projects in the United States,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc. “This project underscores Aecon’s strategic focus on executing and pursuing a growing set of nuclear opportunities in the U.S. and globally.”
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a Washington state public power joint operating agency and a premier provider of carbon-free electricity. Energy Northwest comprises 29 public power member utilities, serving more than 1.5 million customers, and provides its members and regional customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, responsible power generation and innovative energy and business solutions. The agency owns and operates hydroelectric, solar, battery storage, wind and the Northwest’s only nuclear power facility. Energy Northwest also actively supports transportation electrification and new generation projects to the benefit of public power.
Media Contact:
Kelly Rae, Public Affairs [email protected]
509-554-1085
Jackie Eutsey, Nuclear Development
509-372-5478 [email protected]
