The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licences for all three units of the Browns Ferry NPP, allowing continued operation to the mid-2050s. With a generating capacity of nearly 3.8 GWe, it is the third-largest NPP in the US and the most powerful generating station operated by TVA.
Browns Ferry, in Alabama, comprises three General Electric boiling water reactors (BWRs) with Mark I containment. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in December 1973, followed by unit 2 in June 1974 and unit 3 in July 1976. All three units had in 2006, been granted 20-year operating licence extensions until the 2030s. TVA applied for further extensions in January 2024. NRC issued a safety evaluation in July 2025, and a final supplemental environmental impact statement in August. The new licences will expire in December 2053 for unit 1, June 2054 for unit 2, and July 2056 for unit 3.
“The subsequent licence renewal at Browns Ferry marks a proud and historic moment for TVA and the communities we serve,” said TVA’s President & CEO Don Moul. “This is more than a regulatory milestone – it affirms TVA’s continued commitment to nuclear power and the future of American families, jobs and energy independence.”
A signing ceremony with the NRC was held at the Browns Ferry site, celebrating the completion of the licence renewal process. “TVA is leading America’s nuclear energy future, and this subsequent licence renewal and continued investment in Browns Ferry represents another step toward energy dominance, where innovation powers our homes and opportunity fuels our communities,” said TVA’s Chief Nuclear Officer Matt Rasmussen. “This renewal is a reflection of the dedication of our employees – past and present – who have prioritised teamwork and innovation to make Browns Ferry one of the nation’s safest and most reliable nuclear plants.”
Jeremy Groom, Acting Director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, noted: “This is a strong example of how independent oversight and effective collaboration can deliver results that support our energy future. The NRC confirmed that Browns Ferry’s reactors can safely operate for up to 80 years, and TVA’s responsiveness helped us complete our rigorous review nearly three months ahead of schedule.”
Including Browns Ferry 1-3, NRC issued ten licence renewals in 2025: Oconee units 1-3; VC Summer unit 1; Point Beach units 1&2; and Perry unit 1.
TVA’s three NPPs – Browns Ferry and the two-unit Sequoyah and Watts Bar plants in Tennessee – generate more than half the region’s electricity. TVA plans to submit subsequent licence renewal applications Sequoyah and Watts Bar.
TVA is in the process of upgrading its nuclear plants, work which includes over 400 projects aimed at improving performance and efficiency. These upgrades are expected to add up to 244 MWe of additional generation over the next 10-15 years. The work includes replacement of low-pressure turbines, feedwater heaters, and moisture separator reheaters; and design and fabrication improvements to optimise steam system efficiency.
