NRC Issues Environmental Review for Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Plant License Renewal

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Feb. 7 issued its final environmental review for Units 1, 2, and 3 of the Oconee Nuclear Power Station in South Carolina. The environmental assessment will enable Duke Energy to obtain a second license renewal for the power plant, extending the station’s operations for another 20 years. The commission found that extending the plant’s operating life from 60 to 80 years will have no adverse environmental effects.

The Oconee nuclear plant, located around 30 miles from Greenville, consists of three nuclear reactors whose licenses will expire in February 2033, October 2033, and July 2034. Since its start in 1973, the plant has produced 500 million megawatt-hours of electricity, according to Duke Energy’s website. The company submitted its license renewal application in July 2021.

With urgent climate targets, nuclear energy has shown great potential in delivering carbon-free electricity in the next decade. The U.S. government has taken significant measures to streamline and expedite nuclear power plants in the country, with financial support for nuclear developers and recommissioning abandoned nuclear plants. By 2050, the U.S. aims to triple its nuclear capacity, as outlined in the nuclear roadmap published by the U.S. Energy Department.

In October 2024, the department finalized a $2.8 billion loan guarantee to restart the 800-megawatt (MW) Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. Last month, the commission announced that it is seeking public input on the draft EIS for the restart of the Palisades plant.