Constellation Seeks License to Operate Dresden Clean Energy Center for an Additional 20 Years

Constellation, the nation’s largest producer of reliable, carbon-free energy, has filed a subsequent license renewal application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Dresden Clean Energy Center in Morris, Ill., another in a series of investments the company is making to add clean, firm energy to the grid, help address the climate crisis and support the regional economy. The facility’s license was first renewed by the NRC in 2004.

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Enabling the continued operation of Dresden Clean Energy Center through renewal of its NRC license would provide the State of Illinois an estimated 305 terawatt hours of additional carbon-free electricity over the 20-year extended lifespan of the plant. This is more clean energy than all of Illinois’ wind and solar facilities have produced to date. (Photo: Business Wire)

The filing begins a comprehensive, multi-year review by the NRC to renew the station’s license, which, with adequate market or policy support, would allow it to continue providing Illinois with reliable, carbon-free energy for another 20 years through 2051. Dresden, which produces enough baseload, carbon-free electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 1.4 million homes, is currently licensed to operate through 2029 for Unit 2 and 2031 for Unit 3.

“Extending the operating licenses of the nation’s nuclear fleet for an additional 20 years will add more clean megawatts to the grid than all the renewables ever built in this country, and those nuclear plants will continue operating long after the wind and solar facilities under construction today are retired,” said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation. “Nuclear produces half of America’s clean energy, but many still take it for granted and wrongly assume it will always be there. In reality, Constellation reinvests hundreds of millions of dollars each year in its industry-leading nuclear fleet to keep these massive economic engines running, providing thousands of family-sustaining jobs, preserving energy security and delivering the unmatched reliability we need to grow our economy while addressing the climate crisis.”