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SPP's Western Expansion Set for Implementation on April 1

LCG, March 13, 2026--The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) announced yesterday that leaders from the participating organizations voted unanimously to proceed as planned with expanding its regional transmission organization (RTO) services into the Western Interconnection. SPP sees the decision to proceed as planned as a strong signal of confidence as SPP and its partner utilities prepare for this key milestone, which will occur overnight between March 31 and April 1.

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Entergy Estimates Customer Savings of $5B from "Fair Share Plus" Data Center Agreements

LCG, March 6, 2026--Entergy yesterday announced approximately $5 billion in total savings for 2.3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi resulting from data center customer agreements in those states. Entergy, which completed its first data center customer agreement in 2024, projects the customer savings over the next 20 years and after the regulatory approval or acknowledgement of the public service commissions in those states.

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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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