Aecon partnership selected to deliver Energy Northwest's Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington State

Executive Summary

• Aecon Group Inc., Kiewit, and Black & Veatch have formed the Cascade Nuclear Partners joint venture, which is finalizing negotiations with Energy Northwest to design, plan, and construct the first four of 12 Xe‑100 small modular reactors (SMRs).
• The initial phase will deliver up to 320 MW of clean electricity at a site adjacent to Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station in Richland, WA, with construction expected to begin by the end of the decade and operations targeted for the 2030s.
• The announcement underscores Aecon’s strategic focus on expanding its nuclear‑construction portfolio in the United States and highlights multiple concurrent nuclear projects across North America.

Key Details

• Joint Venture: Cascade Nuclear Partners – equal partnership between Aecon, Kiewit, and Black & Veatch.
• Project Scope: Design‑build of four Xe‑100 SMR units (each 80 MW) for Energy Northwest; total capacity 320 MW.
• Technology: Xe‑100 high‑temperature gas‑cooled reactor developed by X‑energy.
• Location: Adjacent to Columbia Generating Station, Richland, Washington.
• Timeline: Construction anticipated to start by end of the decade; commercial operation targeted for the 2030s after NRC construction permit application is filed.
• Related Agreements: Energy Northwest previously announced a multi‑year agreement with Amazon (Oct 2024) for environmental, safety, permitting, licensing and risk analyses supporting this SMR project.
• Strategic Significance: Positions Aecon as a leading nuclear‑construction provider in the U.S., complementing its existing projects:
• Darlington New Nuclear Project (grid‑scale SMR delivery).
• Three largest nuclear refurbishments in North America.
• Ongoing work on Moisture Separator Reheater Replacement at Columbia Generating Station, component replacements at South Texas Project and Dominion’s North Anna Power Station, and recent completion of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions dismantlement project.
• Leadership Quotes:
• Jean‑Louis Servranckx (President & CEO, Aecon) – emphasized strategic focus on nuclear opportunities.
• Aaron Johnson (SVP, Nuclear, Aecon) – highlighted Aecon’s multidisciplinary capabilities.
• Brad Smalldridge (VP, U.S. Nuclear Operations, Aecon) – expressed confidence in collaborative delivery.
• Bob Schuetz (CEO, Energy Northwest) – affirmed momentum and alignment with project goals.

Notable Quotes

• “The Energy Northwest SMR project is an exciting undertaking… this project underscores Aecon’s strategic focus on executing and pursuing a growing set of nuclear opportunities in the U.S. and globally.” – Jean‑Louis Servranckx, President & CEO, Aecon Group Inc.
• “Selecting Cascade Nuclear Partners is a strategic milestone for this project… gives us confidence in their ability to help deliver this critical project successfully.” – Bob Schuetz, CEO, Energy Northwest

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