Comanche Peak adds years to operating licenses
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating licenses of Comanche Peak Units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years.
Unit 1’s operating license now expires on February 8, 2050, and Unit 2’s on February 2, 2053.
The two-unit Comanche Peak nuclear power plant in Glen Rose, Texas, is operated by Luminant. Units 1 and 2 are pressurized water reactors.
Unit 1’s initial license was issued on April 17, 1990, and was set to expire on February 8, 2030. Unit 2 was first licensed on April 6, 1993, with an expiration date of February 2, 2033.
The review: The review of Comanche Peak's license renewal application proceeded on two tracks, according to the NRC. A safety evaluation report was issued in March, and a final supplemental environmental impact statement was issued in April.
These documents, as well as other information regarding the renewal application, are available on the NRC website, which also contains information about the license renewal process.
Quotable: “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 of Vistra, the parent company of Luminant. “Importantly, this demand growth is happening at the same time as the country is transitioning to cleaner energy sources and many fossil plants are retiring. Electricity is one of the most basic building blocks of the economy, and extending the operation of our nuclear fleet provides decades of support for both existing and growing sectors.”
“We take pride in the part we play every day in powering the grid with carbon-free energy. Our dedicated Comanche Peak team operates the plant safely and at a high level of performance, and I'm proud that this record of excellence has paved the way to securing another 20 years of operation,” said Ken Peters, Vistra’s chief nuclear officer. “I want to acknowledge the tremendous work by the team who facilitated one of the most efficient license renewal efforts with the NRC.”
A closer look: Comanche Peak is the third of Vistra’s four nuclear plants to receive its license extension. Units 1 and 2 of the company’s Beaver Valley nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania are licensed through 2036 and 2047, respectively, and Davis-Besse in Ohio is licensed through 2037. Perry nuclear power plant, also in Ohio, filed its application for renewal in 2023, and it is currently under review.
The extended operation of Comanche Peak ensures continued economic benefits to the local area, which is about 40 miles southwest of Ft. Worth. The plant employs 600 workers and more than 200 permanent contractors. Refueling outages for the two reactors bring in anywhere from 800 to 1,200 supplemental workers from across the country and provide additional economic activity for hotels, restaurants, and related businesses in the area.
As the largest taxpayer in Somervell County, Texas, the plant pays more than $30 million a year in state and local taxes. Additionally, Comanche Peak donates thousands of dollars to community organizations, funds environmental protection programs, and takes part in civic engagement activities in both Somervell and Hood counties.
