Constellation Energy announced plans this week to explore adding 2,000 megawatts of new nuclear power in Maryland while seeking a license extension for its existing nuclear units.
On Tuesday, Constellation released a long-range proposal to develop up to 5,800 megawatts of power generation and battery storage projects in the state.
Constellation’s proposal includes a prominent role for the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Calvert County, Maryland.
Operated by Constellation, the Calvert Cliffs plant has two pressurized water reactors that produce 1,790 megawatts. It is the sole nuclear power plant in Maryland.
Along with adding 2,000 megawatts of new nuclear units at Calvert Cliffs, Constellation plans to seek a 20-year license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Without a license extension, the units would otherwise shut down in 2034 and 2036, respectively, Constellation said.
The company will also look into investing in uprates to increase the plant’s output.
With new technology and equipment, Constellation can increase the output of Calvert Cliffs by 10% or 190 megawatts, which is more than the existing wind and solar generation in the state, the company said.
“What is clear to us is that we must build and retain resources that produce abundant, reliable and clean power,” Joe Dominguez, Constellation CEO said. “The best way we know to do that is to make state-of-the-art investments in our state’s existing nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energy resources to get them to operate better and longer, and then to build on top of that great foundation…we are working with willing customers to support the relicensing of the Calvert Cliffs clean nuclear plant.”
In the short term, Constellation said it submitted an 800-megawatt battery storage and 700-megawatt natural gas power project proposals to the Maryland Public Service Commission on Oct. 31. The gas-fired generation can later be converted to carbon-free hydrogen fuel to reduce emissions, Constellation added.