Clinton Clean Energy Center : Constellation aims for 20 more years of carbon-free electricity with NRC license renewal application

Constellation, the United States’ leading producer of carbon-free energy, has initiated a pivotal step toward sustaining its environmental and economic contributions by filing a license renewal application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Clinton, Illinois. This move, part of a broader effort to combat the climate crisis and bolster the regional economy, could extend the facility’s operation by two decades, pending adequate market or policy support. Currently licensed through April 2027, Clinton’s extended operation is essential for continuing to supply the equivalent of 800,000 homes with baseload, carbon-free electricity.

Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation, underscored the critical role of new, clean megawatts in powering homes, businesses, and technologies, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Dominguez highlighted the importance of sustained investment in nuclear power plants, which supply about half of all clean energy on the grid and are the most reliable energy source.

Public support for nuclear energy is on the rise in the U.S. and globally, driven by increasing concerns about climate change and energy reliability. Nuclear plants, capable of operating around the clock under any weather conditions, are pivotal in reducing emissions from industries challenging to decarbonize.

The potential for Clinton’s continued operation was bolstered by state legislation in 2016 and further supported by the enactment of the federal nuclear production tax credit in 2022, providing policy support through 2032. Renewing the NRC license could empower Constellation to maintain Clinton’s operations until 2047, with the ultimate duration dependent on future policy and market conditions.

The license renewal for Clinton Clean Energy Center would grant Illinois an additional 179 terawatt hours of carbon-free electricity over 20 years, surpassing the state’s cumulative wind and solar production to date. Clinton, DeWitt County’s largest employer with 532 employees, significantly contributes to the local economy, especially during refueling and maintenance outages.

Local leaders, like Dan Matthews, president of the Clinton School District Board, emphasize the center’s economic and community benefits, including over $13 million in annual property taxes supporting education and local services.

This license renewal application for the Clinton Clean Energy Center follows Constellation’s investments in clean energy growth, including acquiring a stake in the South Texas Project nuclear plant and uprate projects in Illinois and Maryland. A second license renewal for the Dresden Clean Energy Center is also on the horizon.