RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion
Energy Virginia, a unit of Dominion Energy, Inc., today notified
the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to
relicense North Anna Power Station in Louisa County for an additional 20-year term,
ensuring Virginia customers will
continue to benefit from the safe, reliable, and carbon-free
electricity the station produces for decades to come.
The company informed the NRC Monday that it expects to file a
license renewal application for its two-unit North Anna Power
Station in 2020. The company informed the NRC in November 2015 that it would file a similar
application to renew the licenses of its two Surry Power Station units in the spring of
2019.
Daniel G. Stoddard, chief nuclear
officer for Dominion's nuclear generation division, stated:
"Renewing North Anna Power Station's licenses for a second 20-year
period is the right thing to do for our customers, the regional
economy and the environment," Stoddard said. "The planned
relicensing of North Anna and Surry ensures that the benefits of
these clean energy sources will continue to provide affordable,
reliable, carbon-free electricity to our customers through the
middle of the century. Our nuclear power stations have proven to be
among the most-efficient and most-reliable sources of electricity
in our fleet.
"The operation of North Anna and Surry also positions
Virginia for economic growth. It
directly supports more than 2,000 high-paying jobs in Virginia and produces additional economic and
tax benefits. Their continued operation will go a long way toward
meeting and maintaining both federal and state goals for lowering
carbon emissions in the Commonwealth."
The company is reviewing all technical aspects associated with
the renewal of North Anna Power Station's licenses, and while not
yet complete, sees no significant barriers that would prevent a
license renewal submittal in 2020. The letter of intent is
necessary so the NRC can plan its staffing needs to support the
license renewal effort. The company expects to invest up to
$4 billion on upgrades to North Anna
and Surry as part of the relicensing process.
North Anna Power Station is
located in Louisa County, Va. Its
two nuclear units – both three-loop Westinghouse pressurized water
reactors – provide 1,892 net megawatts of electricity, or enough
power for 473,000 homes. Unit 1 began commercial service in 1978
and Unit 2 began commercial service in 1980.
Surry Power Station is located in
Surry County, Va. Its two nuclear
units – also three-loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactors –
provide 1,676 net megawatts of electricity or enough power for
419,000 homes. Unit 1 began commercial service in 1972 and Unit 2
began commercial service in 1973.
Like all U.S. nuclear units, the North Anna and Surry units were
originally licensed to operate for 40 years. All four units'
licenses were renewed for 20 additional years of operation on
March 20, 2003, following a stringent
review process authorized under federal law. The North Anna and
Surry nuclear units' respective licenses currently will expire in
2038 and 2040, and 2032 and 2033. After renewal, the respective
licenses for North Anna and Surry will allow the units to operate
to 2058 and 2060, and 2052 and 2053.
Dominion Energy also operates two nuclear units at its Millstone
Power Station, located in Waterford,
Conn. In 2005 the company renewed the station's operating
license for one 20-year term, which means the current license for
Unit 2 will expire in 2035, and in 2045 for Unit 3. Millstone Power
Station provides New England and Connecticut with low-cost, carbon-free,
around-the-clock electricity. The station's output powers 2 million
homes and generates the equivalent of over half the electricity
consumed in Connecticut. The
company may consider another 20-year renewed license for Millstone,
but has made no decision to do so at this time.
About Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), is
one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy,
with a portfolio of approximately 25,600 megawatts of
generation,15,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and
storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines.
Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas
storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and
serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For
more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company's website
at www.DominionEnergy.com.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy Virginia