- The NRC has renewed the operating licenses for Comanche Peak units 1 and 2, allowing the reactors, which began operations in 1990 and 1993, to operate until 2050 and 2053, respectively.
- Vistra’s application for the 20-year extension, submitted in 2022, passed safety and environmental reviews, confirming no issues preventing the renewal.
- Nearly all US nuclear reactors have renewed or are seeking to renew their licenses for up to 60 years, with Comanche Peak being the third of Vistra’s plants to receive extensions, supporting reliable power amid growing electricity demand and the transition to cleaner energy.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses for Comanche Peak units 1 and 3, granting an additional 20 years of operation. This marks the first renewal for the two pressurized water reactors, which began operations in 1990 and 1993, respectively.
Vistra submitted its application for a 20-year extension in 2022. The NRC completed its safety evaluation report in March of this year, and a final supplemental environmental impact statement was released in April, confirming that no environmental issues would prevent the license renewal.
Under the US Atomic Energy Act, the NRC is authorized to issue licenses for commercial power reactors for up to 40 years, a period determined by economic and antitrust factors rather than technological limitations. Licenses can be renewed for an additional 20 years, allowing for a total operational lifespan of up to 60 years.
With the renewal, Comanche Peak unit 1’s operating license is now valid until February 2050, and unit 2’s license extends to February 2053.
Nearly all of the USA’s currently operating nuclear reactors have either renewed or applied for renewal of their licenses, allowing for up to 60 years of operation. Comanche Peak is the third of Vistra’s four nuclear plants to receive its license extension, following Beaver Valley and Davis-Besse. The company submitted a renewal application for the single-unit Perry nuclear power plant in 2023, which is under review by the NRC, along with applications for Exelon’s Clinton and Pacific Gas & Electric’s two-unit Diablo Canyon. The regulator also anticipates receiving a license renewal application for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar unit 1 in 2016.
Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra said “with demand for electricity growing at a rapid pace, reliable sources of power, like Comanche Peak, are going to be absolutely essential to meeting that need. Importantly, this demand growth is happening at the same time as the country is transitioning to cleaner energy sources and many fossil plants are retiring. Electricity is one of the most basic building blocks of the economy, and extending the operation of our nuclear fleet provides decades of support for both existing and growing sectors.”
Comanche Peak is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. Extending the plant’s operational period will maintain ongoing economic benefits for the local community, according to Vistra. The plant employs over 600 staff members and more than 200 permanent contractors, with an additional 800 to 1,200 contractors brought in during refueling outages. It also contributes over USD 30 million annually in state and local taxes.