Existing Nuclear is New Nuclear

I consider myself a good driver. I operate my vehicle safely. I obey traffic regulations and keep my car in good condition with regular maintenance. Renewing my driver's license is a no brainer and aside from the line at the DMV, it is otherwise a painless process.

To build the clean, reliable and affordable energy system of tomorrow, the U.S. will need to add new nuclear generation to meet our climate and energy independence goals. New generation will come in two forms: 1) Keeping the existing nuclear reactors, the largest source of reliable clean energy, operating through subsequent license renewals, and 2) Building the next generation of innovative nuclear technologies.

The U.S. boasts the highest performing nuclear reactor fleet in the world. Our current nuclear plants run more efficiently than ever before. They operate safely and withstand extreme weather conditions and increasing energy demand. Like a good driver with a well-maintained vehicle, they too need to renew their licenses...but the process isn't a no brainer.

While renewing the licenses of our existing nuclear reactors is crucial to our progress as we build a clean, reliable energy future, the process takes years and substantial capital investment by the plant owner. NRC performs rigorous, multi-year reviews of the plant and programs to confirm the safety of the plant for license renewal. License renewals will ensure that clean energy, that would otherwise be lost if a plant were to shut down at the end of its license, will continue to serve as a foundation, and more, for the additional clean generation that will be added once next-generation reactors are online. Otherwise, we will be taking a giant leap backward.

The decision to renew a license for a nuclear power plant is both easy and difficult. Easy, because these clean energy workhorses can provide large amounts of clean energy 24/7 365 days a year, rain or shine. They can easily operate for sixty or eighty years, potentially even longer. But it is difficult because the license renewal process is onerous and expensive.

The Inflation Reduction Act, along with actions at the state level, has helped nuclear power plants compete economically in deregulated markets thanks to the value placed on clean energy and today we are seeing rapidly growing energy demand like we haven't seen in decades. We can ill-afford to have these giants of the energy grid shut down due to an arbitrary age limit.

As the Washington Post reported, "Vast swaths of the United States are at risk of running short of power as electricity-hungry data centers and clean-technology factories proliferate around the country, leaving utilities and regulators grasping for credible plans to expand the nation's creaking power grid...Northern Virginia needs the equivalent of several large nuclear power plants to serve all the new data centers planned and under construction. Texas, where electricity shortages are already routine on hot summer days, faces the same dilemma. The soaring demand is touching off a scramble to try to squeeze more juice out of an aging power grid while pushing commercial customers to go to extraordinary lengths to lock down energy sources, such as building their own power plants." These large reactors are already providing clean energy 24/7/365 across the United States. We can't afford to lose any of this generation from these workhorses - in fact, it should be expanded to add new energy from a reliable source.

Thankfully, we're already seeing some of that need being met. One plant, Surry in Virginia, has already received a license to operate for 80 years. Nine other plants are already in the process, including units at: Peach Bottom in Pennsylvania, Turkey Point and St Lucie in Florida, North Anna in Virginia, Point Beach in Wisconsin, Oconee in South Carolina, Monticello in Minnesota, Summer in South Carolina, and Browns Ferry in Alabama. These applications total 18 GW of new generation enabled through these renewed licenses. There's also a handful of companies poised to go through the extension process - including reactors operated by Constellation, Duke Energy, Southern Nuclear to name a few.

The ability to expand the life of a nuclear plant from 40 years to 60 years to 80 years is nothing short of critical for our clean energy and energy independence goals, all while meeting our country's increasing need for energy. Thinking about our future energy needs can be daunting, but nuclear energy is here to meet the moment.