Amazon has unveiled its plans and designs for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, as it continues to invest into small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to power its AI, cloud, and logistics operations with carbon-free electricity. The facility will be built in the state of Washington, near the existing Columbia Generating Station in Richland, in partnership with Energy Northwest and X-energy. The site will also use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design. Fuel for the reactor will be produced at X-energy’s nuclear facility currently under construction in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The project is still months away from construction, with the timeline targeting 2030. Operations are expected to start in the 2030s.
Cascade Advanced Energy Facility Factsheet
Location: Richland, Washington. Adjacent to Columbia Generating Station
Initial Phase Capacity: 320 MW
Planned Full Build-out: Up to 960 MW from 12 reactors
Technology Use: X-energy’s Xe-100. These feature high-temperature gas-cooled modular reactor (HTGR) system
Amazon’s Role:
- Amazon will fund early stages: feasibility, permitting, licensing.
- The company also holds rights to purchase electricity from the initial reactor modules and may take full output if utilities decline due to cost.
Partners:
- Energy Northwest as owner, operator, and license lead.
- X-energy as SMR technology provider. Also concerned with reactor licensing and fuel development.
- AtkinsRealis as owner’s engineer to support design, licensing, commissioning.
Jobs:
- Over 1,000 construction jobs expected during peak season.
- More than 100 permanent operations positions when fully operational.
Construction Start Date: By 2030
Operations Start Date: In the 2030s
Regulatory Status: Engagement ongoing with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), state regulators, and environmental review processes.
Funding: Amazon is investing through its Climate Pledge Fund and has funded early licensing and feasibility phases. X-energy also plans to advance its TRISO fuel, reactor licensing and deployment pipeline.
Timeline for Amazon’s SMR Facility in Washington
Early to Mid-2024: Amazon commits to X-energy investments and is engaged in agreements with Energy Northwest for SMR development.
October 2025: Amazon unveils official name for Washington facility (“Cascade”), renderings, designs, and vision for expansion (up to 960 MW).
Late 2025-2026: Permitting and licensing. Regulatory engagement with NRC and state bodies also underway.
2027-2028: Project expected to reach advanced engineering, detailed design, supply chain contracting.
Late 2020s: Facility expected to break ground on site construction of the first phase SMR modules.
2030s: Phased commissioning of the first 320 MW modules expected to start. Also in sight will be the scaling toward full build-out of 960 MW.
Post-2030s: Facility expects full operations, long-term maintenance, performance optimization, and further reactor deployments.
