NRC extends operating life for Sequoyah nuclear reactors

Sequoyah Nuclear Plant
Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

The Tennessee Valley Authority will be able to continue to operate both units at its Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant for an additional 20 years beyond its original licensed time period under an operating license extension approved today by federal regulators.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission agreed to extend the licenses for both unit 1 and unit 2 at the Sequoyah plant, a Westinghouse-designed, pressurized water reactor plant near Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.

"This milestone is a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment to safely operate Sequoyah to benefit the people we serve every day," TVA's Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Grimes said in a statement. "Nuclear power is a growing part of TVA's cleaner, more diversified generation system. Extending Sequoyah operations will play an integral role in reducing our carbon emissions while reliably supplying electricity at the lowest possible cost."

photo Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

The Unit 1 reactor at the Sequoyah plant, which began power generation in 1981, was previously licensed to operate until 2020 and the second reactor, which was added to the grid in 1982, was licensed to operate until 2021. Combined, the two reactors generate up to 2,333 megawatts of power - enough for more than 1.3 million homes.

The renewed licenses authorize Unit 1 to operate through Sept. 17, 2040, and Unit 2 through Sept. 15, 2041. The Tennessee Valley Authority applied to renew the licenses in January 2013 and regulators have been reviewing the plant and supporting documents ever since.

The two Sequoyah reactors bring to 78 the number of commercial nuclear power reactors with renewed licenses. Applications for an additional 16 renewals are currently under review.

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