Puget Sound Energy to invest $10M to develop new nuclear power reactors at Tri-Cities

Annette Cary
·3 min read
2

Puget Sound Energy is investing $10 million in Energy Northwest’s ongoing efforts to develop new nuclear energy under an agreement the two agencies announced Wednesday.

“Our clean energy future depends on finding reliable resources that produce energy when customers need it without emitting greenhouse gases,” said Mary Kipp, president of Puget Sound Energy in Bellevue.

The agency provides electricity to 1.2 million customers in 10 counties of Western Washington, including in King, Pierce, Thurston and Whatcom counties.

Energy Northwest’s goal is be producing electricity in Benton County in Eastern Washington using an advanced small nuclear reactor by the end of 2030.

It could potentially deploy as many as 12 of X-energy Reactor Co.’s small Xe-100 reactors. Together the modular advanced nuclear reactors would be capable of generating up to 960 megawatts of electricity.

An ongoing analysis of the viability of the X-energy project will inform future investments in the project and a final investment decision, Energy Northwest said.

Energy Northwest of Richland has operated the Columbia Generating Station, the Northwest’s only commercial nuclear power plant, about 10 miles north of Richland since 1984. The plant produces 1,207 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power about 1 million homes

Puget Sound Energy will donate $10 million toward Energy Northwest efforts to add new small nuclear reactors in Eastern Washington adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station, which is shown.
Puget Sound Energy will donate $10 million toward Energy Northwest efforts to add new small nuclear reactors in Eastern Washington adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station, which is shown.

The new reactors would be on leased land at a site adjacent to its existing nuclear reactor. The traditional reactor is built on land at the Hanford nuclear reservation site that was not used by the federal government for weapons work.

New nuclear energy technologies, such as the Xe-100 reactors, are approaching commercial readiness and are designed to have simplified, standardized and scalable designs, said Energy Northwest.

They could be used to swiftly be integrated with renewables dependent on the weather, such as solar and wind, to provide around-the-clock electricity without greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Northwest is working on the option as a way to provide clean energy without jeopardizing the reliability and affordability of the power grid in the Northwest, it said.

New sources of clean energy will be needed to meet the Washington state Clean Energy Transformation Act’s commitment to have the state’s electric utilities fully transitioned to clean, renewable and non-emitting resources by 2045.

“As we de-carbonize the electric grid, it is increasingly evident new sources of carbon-free, reliable and affordable electricity must be deployed, and advanced nuclear energy technology can play a vital role in this transition,” Bob Schuetz, Energy Northwest chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Puget Sound Energy’s investment is intended to accelerate Energy Northwest’s examination of the feasibility of developing and deploying a next-generation nuclear energy facility and guide its future participation and investment decisions.

The collaboration does not obligate Puget Sound Energy to any future financial commitment nor signify any ownership interest in a new nuclear project, said Energy Northwest.

Energy Northwest previously received nearly $1 million in combined investments from 17 Northwest public utilities.

In addition to the Columbia Generating Station, Energy Northwest also owns and operates hydroelectric, solar, battery storage and wind projects. It employs about 1,000 people.