The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the operating licenses for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.
The renewal will allow the plant’s three units to continue operations through the mid-2050s, providing energy to more than 2.2 million homes in the Tennessee Valley.
On Friday, officials with TVA and the NRC commemorated the renewal with a signing ceremony on site at the nuclear plant.
“This is more than a regulatory milestone – it affirms TVA’s continued commitment to nuclear power and the future of American families, jobs and energy independence,” TVA’s President & CEO Don Moul said in a news release.
The signing ceremony of the Browns Ferry license renewal on Friday. (TVA)
Browns Ferry is TVA’s largest generating asset, producing about 20% of TVA’s total generation capacity, and is the third-largest nuclear power producer in the United States. It produces nearly 4,000 megawatts of electricity.
The plant’s renewed license will help supply power to the growing region for another two decades.
“This is a strong example of how independent oversight and effective collaboration can deliver results that support our energy future,” Jeremy Groom, acting director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, said. “The NRC confirmed that Browns Ferry’s reactors can safely operate for up to 80 years, and TVA’s responsiveness helped us complete our rigorous review nearly three months ahead of schedule.”
Members of Alabama’s congressional delegation applauded the license extension.
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., noted how Browns Ferry “provides thousands of jobs, facilitates economic growth, and cements Alabama as a national leader in nuclear energy.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said Alabama’s economy depends on reliable power, which Browns Ferry provides to those in the region.
“I look forward to seeing Browns Ferry continue to lead the way in clean nuclear energy production for decades to come,” he said in a statement.
An aerial view of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. (TVA)
Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said nuclear energy is essential to powering the United States, “and that strength is shown right here in North Alabama.”
Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt of Haleyville said the renewal is “great news for reliable, carbon-free power” and for those who operate the plant.
TVA is the nation’s largest public utility and serves customers in seven southern states, including the northern parts of Alabama.