WA 1st small modular nuclear reactors team picked to build near Richland

Energy Northwest has picked a team to plan, design and build the first four of 12 X-energy small modular advanced nuclear reactors near its traditional nuclear power reactor, Columbia Generating Station, north of Richland in Eastern Washington.

The announcement on Thursday came a week after Energy Northwest announced the new nuclear power project would be called Cascade Advanced Energy Facility and released drawings of the plant. In addition, a simulated control room for the type of reactor planned, X-energy’s Xe-100, could open in Richland for student training and practice as soon as November.

Construction on the first module with four reactors is expected to begin by the end of the decade, with operations targeted for the 2030s.

Energy Northwest has picked Cascade Nuclear Partners, a joint venture, to design and build the first advanced small modular nuclear reactor project in Washington state.

The joint venture is made up of three companies with nuclear experience, Kiewit Nuclear Solutions Co., Black & Veatch and Aecon, each with an equal share of the joint venture.

“Selecting Cascade Nuclear Partners is a strategic milestone for this project, one that reflects our continued momentum for this project,” said Bob Schuetz, chief executive officer of Energy Northwest. “Their specialized knowledge in nuclear construction, collaborative approach and strong alignment with Energy Northwest’s values gives us confidence in their ability to help deliver this critical project successfully.”

A year ago Energy Northwest announced an agreement with Amazon on the project, and Amazon will use up to 320 megawatts of power that could be produced by the first four reactors.

Aecon, a North American construction and infrastructure development company, already is working with Energy Northwest on the moisture separator reheater replacement at its Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant.

It also is working on the three largest nuclear refurbishments in North America and leads a construction partnership with Kiewit on North America’s first grid-scale small modular reactor at a site owned by Ontario Power Generation in Canada.

The project with Energy Northwest “underscores Aecon’s strategic focus on executing and pursuing a growing set of nuclear opportunities in the U.S. and globally,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, Aecon Group chief executive officer.

Kiewit is a nuclear construction and engineering company that works on commercial and Department of Energy projects and has regional offices across the United States.

Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company operating since 1915.

“We have more than 60 years of experience in nuclear engineering and a heritage of innovation in delivering complex projects,” said Todd Edsall, president of Black & Veatch Power Providers.

Energy Northwest expects about 1,000 workers to be hired to build the project and then 100 workers will be needed to operate it.

This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "WA 1st small modular nuclear reactors team picked to build near Richland."