The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licence for a second time for unit 2 of Duke Energy’s HB Robinson Steam Electric Plant in South Carolina. This is the fastest licence renewal review in NRC history and the first completed under new federal timelines aimed at accelerating nuclear energy decisions.
The 20-year renewal extends the plant’s authorisation to operate to July 2050, allowing the facility to generate electricity for up to 80 years. The plant comprises a single 759 MWe Westinghouse pressurised water reactor. The site once included a coal-fired unit that generated 174 MWe, which was retired in October 2012 and demolished 2016, and a combustion turbine unit that generated 15 MWe.
The review was completed within the 12-month timeframe established by President Trumps Mat 2025 Executive Order 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, cutting six months from NRC’s previous 18-month schedule, while maintaining rigorous safety standards. NRC conducted its review on parallel tracks, issuing a final supplemental environmental impact statement in March 2026 and a safety evaluation in April 2026.
“This milestone proves we can deliver results quickly without compromising safety,” NRC Chairman Ho K Nieh said. “By focusing on essential factors for sustained nuclear power plant safety and applying lessons learned from past renewals, our team was able to work efficiently while maintaining their commitment to enabling timely safety decisions.”
