Vistra seeks first 20-year life extension for Ohio plant

The Perry nuclear power station in Ohio has one BWR in commercial operation. Construction of a second reactor was cancelled in 1994. Image courtesy First Entergy (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued its final environmental impact statement for renewing the operating license of the single-unit Perry nuclear power station in Ohio.

The NRC said the current operating license for Perry-1, a 1,240-MW boiling water reactor about 50 km northeast of Cleveland, will expire in November 2026.

Utility Vistra submitted a 20-year license renewal application for the unit in 2023.

The NRC said its safety evaluation report for Perry’s license renewal is expected to be completed soon, with both the safety and environmental reports needed for making a final decision.

Perry-1 began commercial operation in November 1987, but achieved first criticality a year earlier.

If successful, the licence extension will be the first one for the single-unit Ohio station.

Additionally, the NRC is reviewing applications for initial licence extensions at the Diablo Canyon-1 and -2, and Clinton-1 nuclear power plants.

Another 11 reactors at six sites are being reviewed for subsequent licence extensions.