The Nuclear Regulatory Commission published the final environmental impact statement last week for a subsequent license renewal for Duke Energy’s Robinson Nuclear Plant in South Carolina.
The subsequent license renewal would extend the reactor’s operation from 60 to 80 years. This license comes after the initial license renewal that extends its potential operating life from 40 to 60 years.
According to a March 20 Federal Register notice, NRC staff found that no serious environmental harms would likely result from continued operation of the Robinson plant. The staff said it believes that it would be reasonable to allow for the subsequent license renewal.
This notice came out on the same day as NRC filed a final environmental impact statement for the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant in Florida.
NRC said it addressed the public comment of the draft environmental impact statement, which was published on Jan. 9, in the final version. NRC received Duke’s license renewal application in April 2025.
Unlike St. Lucie, which filed its renewal application in August 2021, Robinson’s renewal application is scheduled to be completed within a year as a final decision is expected to be made April 27, according to NRC.
Robinson, based in Hartsville, S.C., began operating in 1971 and has one unit, a pressurized-water reactor, that generates 759 megawatts. It is also the first commercial nuclear plant in the Southeast, according to Duke.
Robinson’s operating license was first renewed in 2004 for an additional 20 years until 2030.
NRC also issued an exemption, on its own initiative, Tuesday for the Duke’s subsequent license renewal. Under the exemption, Duke does not have to submit any yearly changes to its license renewal application during NRC’s review.
NRC said this exemption will not present any undue risk to the public health and safety and is consistent with the common defense and security