RICHLAND, Wash. — Energy Northwest, in partnership with Columbia Basin College (CBC) and Washington State University Tri‑Cities (WSU Tri‑Cities), has acquired and installed an educational small modular reactor (SMR) simulator to help train the region’s future clean energy workforce. The simulator is a key component of CBC’s Energy Learning Center and will provide hands‑on training for students enrolled in clean energy and nuclear technology programs.
Developed with CBC through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Community Capacity Building Grant Program, the simulator is designed to advance workforce readiness in advanced nuclear energy and strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent needed to support the region’s growing clean energy sector. Students will gain hands‑on experience with operational scenarios modeled on X‑energy’s Xe-100 advanced SMR technology, preparing them for careers in next‑generation nuclear systems.
“Collaboration with industry and higher education partners is critical to ensuring we develop a local workforce to support our community today and in the future. We know that practical, hands-on experiences are key to helping students discover career pathways they may not have considered before,” said Rebekah S. Woods, CBC’s president. “We are honored to continue to be a trusted partner in this work,” she said.
The simulator is housed at the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at WSU Tri‑Cities, where students from both institutions will have access to the technology as part of their academic and training programs. The simulator is the second Xe-100 training system in operation, complementing X-energy's existing Plant Support Center in Maryland, and supporting broader U.S. workforce development for next-generation nuclear technology.
"We are thrilled to be a partner in this effort to expand education and outreach within the rapidly growing field of advanced nuclear energy,” said Sandra Haynes, WSU Tri-Cities chancellor. “This program is especially relevant to this region given the strong nuclear presence and planned future expansion. Preparing the workforce for these next-generation SMR facilities will require collaboration, commitment, and forward‑thinking initiatives like this one,” she said.
The simulator reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the region’s energy future and ensuring students have access to cutting‑edge tools and training.
“By working together, we’re creating opportunities for students to gain experience with the technologies that will define the next era of clean energy,” said Greg Cullen, Energy Northwest vice president for Energy Services & Development.
In 2024, Energy Northwest announced an agreement with Amazon and X‑energy to build up to 12 small modular reactors, called the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, near Columbia Generating Station, the Pacific Northwest’s only commercial nuclear power plant. The Cascade facility is expected to create up to 1,000 temporary construction jobs and at least 100 permanent positions once fully operational. This effort is part of the agency’s broader strategy to expand reliable, carbon‑free energy resources for the region. The new educational simulator supports that work by helping develop the skilled workforce that will be essential as advanced nuclear technologies move closer to deployment.
Media contacts:
Kelly Rae, Energy Northwest
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Elizabeth Burtner, Columbia Basin College
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Leslie Streeter, WSU Tri-Cities
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About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a Washington state public power joint operating agency and a premier provider of carbon-free electricity. Energy Northwest comprises 29 public power member utilities, serving more than 1.5 million customers, and provides its members and regional customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, responsible power generation and innovative energy and business solutions. The agency owns and operates hydroelectric, solar, battery storage, wind and the Northwest’s only nuclear power facility. Energy Northwest also actively supports transportation electrification and new generation projects to the benefit of public power.