The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a 20-year licence renewal for Xcel Energy's Monticello nuclear power plant, located in the US State of Minnesota. With this approval, the 671 MW power plant will be allowed to operate until 2050. The Monticello nuclear plant began commercial operations in 1971 and Xcel recently completed a project to replace components and increase the facility’s generating capacity from 600 MW to 671 MW, enough to power 500,000 households according to the company.
Under the US Atomic Energy Act, the NRC is authorised to issue licences for commercial power reactors to operate for up to 40 years. These licences can then be renewed for an additional 20 years, for 60 years of operation. Monticello received its initial licence renewal in 2006, allowing it to operate until 2030.
There are 95 nuclear reactors currently in operation in the US for a total capacity of over 97 GW. Nuclear accounted for 18% of the US' total generation in 2023.
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