Dominion Energy’s twin-reactor Surry Power Station has submitted the application for a second renewed 20-year operating license is approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
This is the third second license renewal application to be sent by nuclear utilities to the NRC this year, reflecting the industry’s increasing interest in sustaining the future of its reactor fleet.
Since the first 20-year license renewal was issued in 2000, nearly all the 98 operating reactors in the U.S. fleet have obtained their initial license extensions—Surry’s was obtained in 2003.
The continued operation of America’s nuclear fleet is vital to ensuring an adequate supply of clean, carbon-free energy. Nuclear plants are the largest source of carbon-free electricity in the country.
The first SLR application was submitted by Florida Power and Light in January 2018 for its Turkey Point Nuclear Plant in Florida, followed by Exelon’s filing in July for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania.
The NRC has committed to completing SLR application reviews within an 18-month period, and is piloting this review schedule with one of the initial license renewal applications under way.
The success of the program to date, including the NRC’s expedited review schedule, has resulted in the industry’s increasing confidence in the process. As shown by industry surveys conducted in 2017 and 2018, more than half of nuclear plant licensees now want to pursue SLR applications.