Belews Creek potential new nuclear site. (Photo: Duke Energy)
Following up on an October announcement on plans to invest more heavily in nuclear power, Duke Energy closed out 2025 by submitting an early site permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This ESP application is for a site near the Belews Creek Steam Station, a coal and natural gas plant in Stokes County, N.C., where Duke has been pursuing a new nuclear project for two years.
The details: Duke’s ESP application is technology neutral, meaning the company will be able to receive an NRC permit before making a final reactor design selection. According to Duke, the application contains six potential reactor technologies, “including four small modular reactor designs and two non–light-water designs.” The application does not include large light water reactor designs like the 11 units Duke already operates in the Carolinas.
The company added that it plans to have 600 megawatts of new nuclear power on line at the site by 2037, with the first SMR coming on line in 2036. The NRC’s project overview states that it is currently engaged with Duke on an SMR “rated at approximately 300 MWe gross electrical output.” A second, similarly sized reactor would get Duke to the 600 MWe of nuclear power planned for Belews Creek.
Interestingly, the NRC’s project overview also specifies that the project involves an LWR, despite Duke saying that two of its potential six technologies are non-LWR designs.
Tamping excitement: Even with new progress, much remains undecided on the Stokes County project and Duke’s broader nuclear plan. Despite the submission of an ESP application, the company noted that it “has yet to make a decision to build new nuclear units.”
Rather than a firm build commitment, this most recent news reflects Duke’s continued exploration of new nuclear. This is Duke’s first ESP, and the company described the optional NRC process as a risk-mitigation strategy that will allow it resolve environmental and site safety topics on the front end of the project.
“We’re taking a strategic approach to new nuclear development that allows us to advance licensing activities while reducing risks and allowing technologies to mature,” added Duke Energy chief nuclear officer Kelvin Henderson.
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