By 2030, the United States could experience electricity shortages if a significant number of nuclear power plants are retired in a short period. Replacing the nearly 100 gigawatts of electrical generating capacity would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions if fossil fuel plants replace nuclear plants.
One way to avoid this outcome is renewing the operating licenses of nuclear power plants a second time for up to an additional 20 years.
This second license renewal road map documents the industry’s assessment of the milestones that must be reached so that the NRC can review second license renewal applications for the first companies seeking them.