Headline: Constellation Energy Proposes to Restart Three Mile Island
In a significant move for the nuclear energy sector, Constellation Energy today submitted a plan to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to revive the reactor of Unit 1 at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The company aims not only to renew its operating license but also to extend the plant's lifespan and rebrand it as the Crane Clean Energy Center.
This proposal follows Constellation's announcement last month of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to support the reopening. Despite being shut down in 2019 for economic reasons, the Unit 1 reactor could potentially be reactivated, even though Unit 2 was the site of the U.S.'s most serious nuclear accident, a partial meltdown in 1979.
Today's NRC meeting marked the first public discussion of an unprecedented project to restart a retired nuclear reactor. Such an initiative has not been attempted before in the nuclear energy industry. Plant manager Trevor Worth expressed confidence in the restart process during the meeting, emphasizing that shutdown and restart procedures are thoroughly understood.
The 835-megawatt reactor is planned to restart in 2028, aiming to supply energy to offset electricity usage at Microsoft’s regional data centers. Preliminary tests completed by Constellation this year confirmed that reviving the retired reactor is both physically and financially feasible.
Restoration work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, with costs estimated to be at least $1.6 billion and thousands of workers expected to be employed. However, the project still faces obstacles, including license amendments, permits, and opposition from local activists concerned about safety and environmental issues.
Before any potential restart, the NRC will be required to conduct an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act in the final year. Additionally, the plant will need to obtain various environmental permits related to air emissions and water pollutants.