Blue Energy presented plans for a proposed natural gas and nuclear power facility at the Port of Victoria during a community open house on Wednesday. Eben Burnham-Snyder, the company's vice president of public affairs, said the event was meant to introduce the proposed Blue Energy Center and share information about its construction and operations.
The company projects more than 350 permanent jobs with an average annual salary of $140,000. Blue Energy plans to use factory-built components brought to the site by barge to limit construction traffic and disruption. Burnham-Snyder said the company hopes to make a final investment decision in the second half of 2027. If the project moves forward, preliminary site work could begin in 2028, with natural gas generation targeted for 2030 and nuclear operations expected to start in 2032.
Company officials said the facility would use treated brackish water and a closed-cycle cooling system, so it would not need municipal water during operations. The nuclear portion would be subject to licensing and oversight by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Residents at the open house raised questions about environmental safety, job projections, tax incentives and effects on nearby communities. Teresa Cordova, who attended after researching the project, said she was concerned about industrial pollution, transparency and differences in the company's employment figures.