The Ginna nuclear power plant. (Photo: Constellation)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted Constellation’s subsequent license renewal application to extend operations at the Ginna nuclear power plant by another 20 years.
If approved, the Ontario, N.Y., facility’s operating license would be extended through September 18, 2049. The plant was first issued a 40-year license in 1969, followed by a 20-year renewal in 2004 that extended the license into 2029.
The application: On June 17, Constellation submitted the application for the one-unit, 576-MWe Ginna, one of its three nuclear power plants in the state of New York. Earlier in the year, the utility had submitted an SLR application for Nine Mile Point-1 in Scriba; the NRC accepted the Nine Mile Point application in April.
“Extending the operational life of New York’s nuclear fleet is crucial—it’s the backbone of our energy future and a lifeline for working families across the state,” said Greg Lancette, International Representative for the United Association of Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs, in a Constellation news release.
According to the Federal Register notice posted Monday, NRC staff determined Constellation had submitted sufficient information for the agency to commence a review of the Ginna SLR application and that it was acceptable for docketing. As a result, the NRC has opened a 60-day window for the public to request a hearing on the application; requests must be submitted by September 18.
What happens next: It is expected that the NRC will make its decision on Ginna within 12 months, in accordance with the agency’s new, streamlined process for renewing operating licenses in such a time frame. This year, the agency has approved SLRs for Hatch-1 and -2 and for Robinson within 12 months of acceptance.
A look at the status of initial license renewal and SLR applications shows two other nuclear power plants awaiting decisions from the NRC. The agency is expected to make its decisions on the operating licenses of Nine Mile Point-1 and Nebraska’s Cooper power plant in or before April 2027 and June 2027, respectively.
According to the NRC, the Tennessee Valley Authority intends to submit its initial license renewal application for Watts Bar-1 in the last three months of 2026, and nine more SLR applications are expected next year.
