The Frederick County Council on Tuesday discussed supporting a nuclear power company’s future research and development facility.
X-energy is a nuclear reactor and fuel design engineering company focused on clean energy generation.
The company plans to renovate a building of nearly 89,000 square feet in the Ballenger Creek area to establish a research and development and non-nuclear testing facility, according to the resolution presented to the council.
The company already operates a training center in the county.
The project’s estimated costs are $75 million. The Maryland Department of Commerce proposed a $350,000 conditional loan to the company through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Fund.
This fund requires the local jurisdiction to provide a 10% match in support of the project. If the resolution is approved, the county will match the loan in the form of $35,000 in project fee reimbursement.
The funds will come from the county’s economic opportunity fund, according to Beth Woodring, director of financial operations for the county’s economic development office.
Woodring said the company may also be eligible for commercial and industrial tax credit — part of the county’s initiative to encourage business growth and job creation.
The tax credit benefit will likely not meet the 10% match requirement, which is the reason the county is offering the $35,000 amount, Woodring told the council.
Mark Florimbio, a Walkersville resident, supported the resolution and said the state should increase its nuclear energy sources.
Florimbio said this could help the county reach its climate goals.
“It gives us a stake in the future of this exciting technology, and it will bring very high-paying jobs to the county,” Florimbio said.
Through this project, the company will create an additional 35 full-time employee positions by the end of 2027, according to the resolution.
Council Member Steve McKay asked about the average salaries for these jobs.
For this project, Woodring said the salaries are required to be at least 150% of the state minimum wage of $15 per hour.
But these new positions will primarily be engineering jobs, so the salaries will likely be higher, Woodring said.
Another resident, who said he worked as a nuclear engineer, offered his expertise to the County Council and supported research and development in this field.
“It’s time to have the next generation with newer technology, with safer technology,” he said.
Council Member Renee Knapp questioned if the project could have an unusual impact on county resources.
Woodring said the project is relatively small in terms of personnel. The county is not aware of “unusual utility requirements” associated with the research and development facility, she said.
