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News
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LCG, December 30, 2025--Duke Energy announced today its submission of an early site permit (ESP) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The site is near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, North Carolina. The submittal follows two years of work at the site, and the announcement states that the submittal is part of Duke Energy's strategic, on-going commitment to evaluate new nuclear generation options to reliably meet the growing electricity needs of its customers while reducing costs and risks.
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LCG, December 29, 2025--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today issued a summary of its 2025 accomplishments to highlight its commitment to "enabling the safe and secure use of civilian nuclear energy and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation to benefit society and the environment."
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Industry News
Duke Energy Submits Early Site Permit Application to NRC for New Nuclear Reactors in North Carolina
LCG, December 30, 2025--Duke Energy announced today its submission of an early site permit (ESP) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The site is near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, North Carolina. The submittal follows two years of work at the site, and the announcement states that the submittal is part of Duke Energy's strategic, on-going commitment to evaluate new nuclear generation options to reliably meet the growing electricity needs of its customers while reducing costs and risks.
Duke Energy's announcement states that it has yet to make a decision to build new nuclear units. If additional evaluation confirms small modular reactor (SMR) technology at the Belews Creek site offers the best value for customers, the company plans to add 600 MW of advanced nuclear to the system by 2037, with the first small modular reactor coming on line in 2036.
Duke Energy expects the ESP review and approval process to take approximately 18 months. Once the permit is received, likely in 2027, it will remain valid for 20 years and may be renewed for up to 20 more years.
Submitting the optional ESP application is a first for Duke Energy. The ESP provides the company a risk-mitigation strategy as it pursues potential new nuclear generation options. The ESP submittal resolves environmental and site safety topics up front and confirms a site's suitability for new nuclear generation. Receiving an approved permit reduces the risk of project delays during licensing and construction.
The ESP application is generally technology neutral so that Duke Energy can select a technology later in the development process. The application includes six potential reactor technologies, including four small modular reactor designs and two non-light-water designs. However, large light-water reactors, similar to the 11 units the company currently operates in the Carolinas, are not included in the permit application.
Duke Energy's Chief Nuclear Officer stated, "We're taking a strategic approach to new nuclear development that allows us to advance licensing activities while reducing risks and allowing technologies to mature."
"Nuclear energy has and will continue to play an essential role in powering communities in the Carolinas," said Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "Submitting an early site permit application is an important next step in assessing the potential for small modular reactors at the Belews Creek site."
The site under consideration for potential new nuclear units is a 1,000-acre site near Belews Creek Steam Station, which is a two-unit coal and natural gas plant located at Belews Lake. The 2,220-MW coal-fired facility opened in 1974, and in 2020 and 2021, natural gas was added to allow up to 50 percent natural gas co-firing on both units.
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