The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the subsequent license renewal for NextEra Energy Resources’ Point Beach Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2, securing the facility’s operation for approximately three additional decades. The decision allows Unit 1 to operate through 2050 and Unit 2 through 2053.
The NRC’s approval, formalized at its headquarters in Rockville, M.D., on September 29, 2025, follows a multi-year application and review process. Point Beach is currently Wisconsin’s only operating nuclear power plant and has been a key component of the state’s energy infrastructure since Unit 1 began commercial operations in 1970 and Unit 2 in 1973.
The plant, located on a 1,200-acre site along Lake Michigan, currently supplies about 14% of the total electricity generated in Wisconsin, producing enough power for nearly one million homes and businesses, according to the company. The subsequent renewal ensures the facility will continue to contribute to grid stability and the state’s power generation mix.
Brian Bolster, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources, said the approval secures the plant’s future in the state. “This approval ensures that Wisconsin’s only nuclear plant will continue to provide safe, reliable, low-cost energy for generations to come,” Bolster said in a statement.
The renewal of the Point Beach license is significant for the broader U.S. nuclear power sector, aligning with a national trend of extending the operational lifespan of existing nuclear facilities. As the country aims for decarbonization, license extensions for existing plants like Point Beach are seen as critical for maintaining carbon-free baseload power generation. Nuclear power is consistently cited by industry analysts as a vital, non-intermittent source of electricity that does not produce greenhouse gases during operation.
The plant also serves as an economic engine for its local community, providing approximately 400 permanent, high-paying jobs. Thad Edmonds, Point Beach Site Vice President, emphasized the effort behind the extension. “This approval represents the culmination of rigorous efforts to meet and exceed regulatory expectations,” Edmonds stated.
NextEra Energy has been actively pursuing license extensions across its nuclear fleet. This approval follows a similar subsequent license renewal granted to its sister company’s Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. Another of the company’s facilities, FPL’s St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, is currently undergoing its own license renewal process, further demonstrating the company’s focus on securing the long-term future of its nuclear assets.
By Michael Kern for Oilprice.comÂ
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