The Cascade Advanced Energy Project plans to build a 320 MW nuclear facility adjacent to Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station on the Hanford Reservation in Benton County, Washington.

The initial phase will consist of four Xe‑100 small modular reactors, each rated at roughly 80 MW, supplied by X‑energy, which will also provide the TRISO‑X nuclear fuel.

Fluor Corporation has been appointed to deliver engineering, design development, supply‑chain planning and project‑control services for the plant’s nuclear island, but the contract does not constitute a full EPC award.

Cascade Nuclear Partners – a joint venture of Kiewit Nuclear Solutions, Black & Veatch and Aecon – will handle the conventional island and integration work for the project.

Energy Northwest will own and operate the facility, while Amazon is providing strategic financing for early development under a broader partnership targeting at least 5 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2039.

Industry reporting estimates the total project cost at more than $2 billion, although neither the engineering contract value nor an approved construction budget has been disclosed.

The design uses high‑temperature gas‑cooled reactor technology with helium coolant and passive safety systems, allowing online refuelling and enhanced safety through TRISO fuel coatings.

Regulatory review is at the pre‑application stage with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission engaging Energy Northwest on a future construction permit for up to 12 reactor modules, which could ultimately raise capacity to 960 MW.

Utilities in the Pacific Northwest may subscribe to up to half of the initial output, positioning the plant to support electricity‑intensive industries and expanding cloud‑computing infrastructure in the region.