Exelon has applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the renewal of the operating licences for Peach Bottom 2 and 3. If approved, the licence for unit 2 would be extended from 2013 to 2033, and from 2014 to 2034 for unit 3.
The total cost of obtaining the renewed licences will be about $18 million, including the NRC review. Exelon has notified the NRC that it intends to file for licence renewal for its Dresden and Quad Cities stations.
In 2000, the two 1098MWe BWR units generated 19TWh, a record in the plant’s 25-year history. President and chief nuclear officer of Exelon Nuclear, Oliver D Kingsley, said: “A 20-year extension in Peach Bottom’s operating licence is an investment in 2200 megawatts of power for southeastern Pennsylvania for years to come.” Peach Bottom is operated by Exelon Nuclear and jointly owned by Exelon (46.25%), PSEG (46.25%) and Conectiv (7.5%). Exelon Nuclear operates 17 units in three states, making it the largest generating company in the USA.
Duke Power has applied for renewal of operating licences for Catawba and W B McGuire plants in South and North Carolina. Renewal would take the lives of the four PWRs to 2041-2046.
As previously reported in NEI (July 2001, p8), Virginia Electric Power Company, a unit of Dominion Resources, recently filed for the renewals for its North Anna and Surry stations (two units each). Current licences for North Anna expire in 2018 for unit 1 and 2020 for unit 2. Surry 1 expires in 2012 and unit 2 in 2013.
The NRC has made the 20-year licence renewal applications available on its website. NRC staff are currently conducting an initial review of the applications to determine whether they contain enough information for the formal review.
The number of pending applications to extend plant licences that has been filed with the NRC currently totals 14 units.
