Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved TVA’s subsequent license renewal (SLR) application for continued operation of all three Units at Browns Ferry.
This approval allows each unit to continue operating for an additional 20 years from the current renewed operating license, which expires in 2033 for Unit 1, 2034 for Unit 2, and 2036 for Unit 3. The SLR approval means that Browns Ferry will remain available for base load generation until 2053 for Unit 1, 2054 for Unit 2, and 2056 for Unit 3.
On Friday, Dec. 12, a license signing ceremony was held onsite at Browns Ferry to commemorate this significant milestone. Officials from the NRC, along with Browns Ferry Leadership, Chief Nuclear Officer Matt Rasmussen and President and CEO Don Moul, welcomed delegates from local power companies, regional customers and local, state and federal government agencies to recognize this milestone, which will have positive impacts on TVA’s ability to support economic expansion for years to come.
“Leading this nation toward nuclear energy dominance is about more than the number of units or our megawatt capacity. It’s about an entire team of nuclear professionals committed to safety — during every second, every task, every day,” Moul said. “The nuclear professionals we have here at Browns Ferry and across the fleet who have performed the work to make these units more resilient and efficient for decades to come is what makes this a milestone moment.”
“This milestone could not have been achieved without employees – past and present – who have consistently prioritized teamwork and innovation to make Browns Ferry one of the nation’s safest and most reliable nuclear plants,” Rasmussen said. “Because of their efforts, this renewed license will support TVA’s long-term energy strategy to maintain a resilient and affordable power system.”
The process to obtain subsequent license renewal was a well-coordinated effort by the team that worked to ensure the application itself was completed with the highest standards.
“Extensive reviews and analysis of our units and processes were required to complete the SLR application prior to submittal,” Site Vice President Daniel Komm said. “Along with our entire organization, I want to also recognize the efforts of the License Renewal team, under the direction of Carol Barajas and Pete Donohue, who led this effort in collaboration with fleet and industry organizations.
“Our approval demonstrates the value we hold for safely operating our units and for performing quality maintenance and upgrades on our equipment to ensure we are equipped to service the Valley for many years ahead.”