Duke Energy has kicked off an effort to renew the operating licenses of all its 11 nuclear reactors for 20 more years, starting with Oconee Nuclear Station, its largest nuclear plant.
The utility on June 21 filed an application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a subsequent license renewal (SLR) for the three-unit 2.5-GW Oconee plant. Located on Lake Keowee in Seneca, South Carolina, Oconee’s current operating licenses are slated to expire in the early 2030s. An NRC-approved SLR would extend their licenses to up to 80 years and potentially allow the plant to operate to as late as 2054.
