US Nuclear Power Plant Cleared For 80 Years Of Operations

The Surry 1 site first came online in the early 1970s with an intended run date of just 40 years, until an initial 20 year extension was granted in early 2003.

With that extension running from the early 2010s to the early 2020s, the latest extension will see the plant in operation for 80 years when they are finally decommissioned.

Speaking after the extension was confirmed, Dominion Energy Chief Nuclear Officer Dan Stoddard said “Renewing Surry’s licences for another 20-year period is great news for our customers, the environment and the regional economy,” adding “Extending Surry’s operations is critical to Dominion Energy meeting the Virginia Clean Economy Act’s requirements for zero-carbon electricity by 2045. It also positions Virginia for continued economic growth and will help the Commonwealth remain a leader in the production of clean energy in the mid-Atlantic and South. It supports more than 900 high-paying jobs at the station and produces additional economic and tax benefits.”

The site is not without its safety issues though as a reported six workers have been killed there in the past in scaldings and explosions although natural disasters – the area being prone to both earthquakes and tornados – have all been dealt with by automated systems and are not considered a major factor in current safety precautions.