Southern Nuclear is seeking a second license renewal that extends its operation at the Edwin Hatch Nuclear Power Plant in Baxley, Ga. for an additional 20 years.
The Southern Co. subsidiary on May 15 applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to renew the two reactor licenses at the Hatch plant from 60 years to 80 years of operation.
The Hatch plant has two boiling water reactors that collectively produce around 1,800 megawatts. Unit 1 is licensed to operate until Aug. 6, 2034 and Unit 2 is licensed until June 13, 2038.
According to the NRC’s May 22 press release, the agency is reviewing the application to determine if the information is sufficient to begin its safety and environmental reviews.
The NRC approved Southern Nuclear’s first license renewal of its reactors in January 2002, extending operation from 40 to 60 years. The first unit began operation in 1974, while the second unit started in 1978.
Southern Nuclear previously notified the NRC that it sought out a subsequent license renewal for the two Hatch units this year in a letter of intent from Aug 2022.
The Hatch plant is co-owned by Dalton Utilities, Georgia Power, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Oglethorpe Power Corporation. Southern Nuclear operates the reactors on behalf of the co-owners, the company said.
