Dow, a materials science company, and X-energy, a nuclear energy innovation company, have signed a letter of intent that will help Dow advance its carbon emissions reduction goals. Dow and X-energy will collaborate with the intent to deploy X-energy's Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor technology at one of Dow's United States Gulf Coast sites – which is expected to be operational by approximately 2030. The Xe-100 reactor plant would provide cost-competitive, carbon-free process heat and power to the Dow facility. Dow also intends to take a minority equity stake in X-energy, working with the company to deploy small modular nuclear technology.

The United States Department of Energy has recognized that advanced small modular nuclear reactor technology is a key part of the department's goal to develop safe, clean, and affordable nuclear power options. In 2020, X-energy was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program to deliver a four-unit Xe-100 plant in Washington State, which will make it among the first operational grid-scale advanced reactor plants in North America.