Amazon’s Nuclear Ambition Takes Shape with Cascade Facility
Amazon has unveiled detailed plans and renderings for what sources indicate could become a landmark advanced nuclear project in Washington state. The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, an initial 320-MW small modular reactor complex, represents the first major project in Amazon’s broader partnership with advanced reactor developer X-energy, according to reports from industry publications.
Project Specifications and Timeline
The project will be owned, built, and operated by Energy Northwest just north of Richland, Washington, on land adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station. Analysts suggest the location provides strategic advantages given existing nuclear infrastructure and regulatory familiarity. Development will initially focus on a four-unit Xe-100 reactor “pack” generating 320 MWe, though plans envision expanding the site to 12 reactors for a combined 960 MWe.
The report states that “construction is currently expected to start by the end of this decade, with operations targeted to start in the 2030s.” This timeline reportedly aligns with Amazon’s broader commitment to help deploy up to 5 GW of new X-energy SMR capacity by 2039, according to the company’s previously announced Climate Pledge Fund investments.
Advanced Reactor Technology
X-energy’s Xe-100 represents a next-generation high-temperature gas reactor design that uses helium cooling and operates at temperatures exceeding 750°C. The pebble-bed reactor utilizes more than 200,000 continuously circulating graphite pebbles, each embedded with approximately 18,000 tri-structural isotropic fuel particles. According to technical documentation, this design offers enhanced safety characteristics compared to conventional nuclear plants.
In its announcement, Amazon described the Cascade facility as a project that will “provide around-the-clock, safe, reliable carbon-free energy to support the energy demands of artificial intelligence and the digital tools that are part of our everyday lives.” This focus on powering digital infrastructure comes amid growing industry attention on AI-powered energy solutions across multiple sectors.
Modular Design and Land Efficiency
Renderings published by X-energy depict a multi-island nuclear campus organized around the Xe-100’s modular construction philosophy. The 960-MW Cascade layout is arranged in three groupings of four 80-MWe reactor units, each forming a self-contained “block” with its own reactor building and support systems.
Sources indicate the entire complex will occupy only “a few city blocks” despite its nearly 1 GW capacity when fully built out. Amazon noted this represents “a stark contrast to traditional nuclear power facilities whose single GW plant can take up more than a square mile of land.” This compact footprint reportedly aligns with broader industry trends toward efficient resource utilization amid supply chain challenges.
Digital Control Systems and Workforce Development
The project features an advanced digital control architecture with two simulator environments. One will serve as an educational training facility at Columbia Basin College, while the other will function as X-energy’s full-scale control room prototype for design verification. Both will employ fully digital human-machine interfaces with multi-screen configurations.
According to project partners, the classroom simulator, modeled after X-energy’s control room and housed in space donated by Washington State University Tri-Cities, is expected to be operational later this year. This training infrastructure development comes as technology companies increasingly focus on advanced technical education partnerships.
Economic Impact and Regional Benefits
The Cascade facility is expected to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent positions in nuclear operations, engineering, and related technical fields. Analysts suggest the project will serve as both a regional economic driver and a workforce development catalyst for the Pacific Northwest region near the Cascade Range.
“Investing in advanced training simulators prepares future operators and builds the foundation for a clean energy workforce that will power our region for decades to come,” said Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest, in statements included in the project announcement. The initiative appears timed to capitalize on emerging infrastructure development opportunities across Western states.
Broader Industry Implications
The Cascade announcement marks another significant step forward for X-energy, which is simultaneously pursuing an 800-MWth, four-unit Long Mott Generating Station in Texas with partner Dow under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Industry observers suggest the parallel development of multiple projects demonstrates growing commercial interest in advanced nuclear technologies.
Both Amazon and X-energy have emphasized that Cascade represents a new model for public-private collaboration in deploying advanced nuclear technology at grid scale. The project’s progression through design and licensing phases will reportedly be closely watched by energy analysts as a bellwether for the broader advanced nuclear industry.
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