Preserving the Existing Fleet
TThe existing fleet of U.S. nuclear power plants reliably generated approximately 20% of our electricity. Preserving the current nuclear fleet is vital to our nation’s energy security and providing millions of Americans with abundant, affordable power.
Why Preserve the Existing Nuclear Fleet?
To strengthen our nation’s energy security, the current fleet of American nuclear reactors must be preserved.
We need every electron we can from our nuclear reactors to provide reliable and affordable power to American families. At an average age of 40-years-old, many current nuclear power plants are only middle-aged!
As our country faces an unprecedented increase in demand of electricity, nuclear power is needed to address this demand.
Subsequent License Renewals
The Atomic Energy Act and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations limit commercial power reactor licenses to an initial 40 years but also permit such licenses to be renewed. This original 40-year term for reactor licenses was based on economic and antitrust considerations — not on limitations of nuclear technology. Due to this selected period, however, some structures and components may have been engineered on the basis of an expected 40-year service life.
The NRC has established a timely license renewal process and clear requirements, codified in 10 CFR Part 51 and 10 CFR Part 54, that are needed to assure safe plant operation for extended plant life. The timely renewal of licenses for an additional 20 years, where appropriate to renew them, may be important to ensuring an adequate energy supply for the United States during the first half of the 21st century.
By 2040, over half of the nation’s nuclear power plants will need to obtain a second renewed operating license to continue operating. The NRC staff has defined subsequent license renewal (SLR) to be the period of extended operation from 60 years to 80 years. Learn about the plants currently under review.
Civil Nuclear Credit Program
The Civil Nuclear Credit Program is a $6 billion strategic investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to help preserve the existing U.S. reactor fleet and save thousands of high-paying jobs across the country.
Under the new program, owners or operators of commercial U.S. reactors can apply for certification to bid on credits to support their continued operations. An application must demonstrate the reactor is projected to close for economic reasons and that closure will lead to a rise in air pollutants and carbon emissions. The U.S. Secretary of Energy must also determine that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reasonable assurance that the reactor will continue operating according to its current licensing basis and poses no significant safety hazards.
Credits will be allocated to selected certified reactors over a four-year period beginning on the date of the selection, and credits can be awarded through September 30, 2031, if funds remain available.