Nuclear

Vistra receives approval to operate Comanche Peak nuclear plant another 20 years

The company says the license renewal is important as the U.S. faces increased demand growth while transitioning to cleaner sources.
Vistra receives approval to operate Comanche Peak nuclear plant another 20 years
(Source: Vistra.)

Vistra said the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved its request to operate the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant through 2053, an additional 20 years beyond its original licenses.

The two-unit nuclear plant, located in Somerville County, Texas, has a capacity of 2,400 MW. Construction of the two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors began in 1974. The plant began operating in 1990. The company submitted its application for license renewal with the NRC in October 2022.

Vistra said the license renewal is important as the country faces demand growth while transitioning to cleaner sources.

“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,” said Jim Burke, president and chief executive officer of Vistra.

Comanche Peak is the third of Vistra’s four nuclear plants to receive its license extension from the NRC.

Comanche Peak units 1 and 2 can now operate through 2050 and 2053, respectively. The company’s Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant units 1 and 2 in Pennsylvania are licensed through 2036 and 2047, and Davis-Besse in Ohio is licensed through 2037. Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio filed its application for renewal in 2023 and is currently in the NRC review process.

The Beaver Valley, Davis-Besse and Perry Nuclear power plants came from Vistra’s acquisition of Energy Harbor, which was approved by FERC in February. Vistra originally announced the $3.4 billion purchase in March 2023. It includes a 4,000 MW nuclear generation fleet and retail business of nearly 1 million customers.

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