The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a 20-year life extension for two nuclear power plants operated by Constellation in Illinois (United States), namely the 1.1 GW Clinton Clean Energy Center and the 1.8 GW Dresden Clean Energy Center (Constellation press release, 16/12/2025). With the approval, the Clinton power plant is expected to operate through 2047, and the two reactors at the Dresden power plant can operate through 2049 and 2051. Constellation plans to invest more than US$370m to relicense the plants and doing the necessary upgrades on both centers to ensure their safety and reliability, as well as to increase their efficiency.
The Clinton facility has already secured a 20-year power agreement with Meta, which should support its continued operation, expansion and relicensing.
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