CASCADE ADVANCED ENERGY FACILITY
KNOW ABOUT CASCADE WATCH
NOW THE QUESTION HAS RETURNED TO HANFORD.
Energy Northwest New Nuclear and X-energy are exploring a new advanced nuclear facility at Hanford using Xe-100 reactor technology.
The project is currently in NRC pre-application activity.
It has not been approved for reactor construction.
The currently contemplated first phase is four approximately 80-MWe Xe-100 units, totaling about 320 MWe, with possible future expansion to as many as twelve units, or approximately 960 MWe. Amazon is financially involved in X-energy and the Cascade development structure and has future power/allocation interests, while the complete future distribution of the project’s electricity has not been publicly established.
PROPOSED IS NOT INEVITABLE.
This is precisely when communities should be asking questions. Not after construction. Not after the contracts. Not after the risk has been transferred.
Now.
WATCH THE DECISION BEFORE IT BECOMES INEVITABLE.
Cascade Watch tracks the proposed advanced nuclear project at Hanford so communities can see what is being proposed, who stands to benefit, who carries the risks, and what questions remain unanswered.
STATUS:
NRC PRE-APPLICATION
DEVELOPER:
Energy Northwest New Nuclear + X-energy
LOCATION:
DOE Hanford Reservation
INITIAL CONFIGURATION:
4 × Xe-100
POTENTIAL BUILDOUT:
Up to 12 units
QUESTIONS WE ARE TRACKING
Who controls the specific project land?
What are the full public/private financing arrangements?
Who carries construction overruns?
How will project electricity be allocated?
What transmission infrastructure becomes necessary?
What water and cooling system will be used?
What does a Xe-100-specific waste analysis show?
What subsidies or tax preferences could apply?
What is the chronology of Nation-specific Tribal engagement?
What long-term decommissioning responsibility exists?
WANAPUM × MARSHALLESE EXCHANGE
Reciprocal relationship-building around nuclear history, health, healing, advocacy, culture, environmental repair, and intergenerational responsibility.
HANFORD + PRIEST RAPIDS STORYWORK
Supporting community-controlled histories and narratives about place, displacement, memory, survival, and relationship.
CASCADE WATCH
Tracking the proposed advanced nuclear project at Hanford, including licensing, land, public financing, electricity allocation, water, waste, transmission, and Tribal engagement.
NUCLEAR JUSTICE POLICY
Researching Washington’s role in nuclear subsidies, economic risk, ratepayer exposure, infrastructure planning, Tribal processes, and public accountability.
FUTURE ANCESTORS
Creating pathways for young people to learn the history they are inheriting—and to participate in decisions about what happens next.
NUCLEAR HEALTH + HEALING
Building relationships around health access, cancer burden, healing, environmental health, and long-term community care.