NRC issues no-significant-impact finding on reauthorizing Crane nuclear plant operations
- Environmental impacts NOT SIGNIFICANT in each resource area, staff found
- NRC has not yet decided on exemption and license amendments
- DOE to publish separate notice or decision document, as appropriate
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Friday published a finding of no significant impact for proposed actions to reauthorize power operations at the Christopher M. Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania, meaning NRC staff will not prepare an environmental impact statement.1,2
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (CEG) has asked the NRC for an exemption and three license amendments to resume power operations at the single-reactor plant through April 19, 2034.1,2 The NRC said in the notice that it is still considering those requests.1,2
The plant, formerly Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1, would provide 835 megawatts-electric of baseload power generation capability to the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland electric grid, according to the notice.1,2
In support of its decision to pursue the resumption of power operations, CEG cites a 20-year power purchase agreement signed in 2024 with Microsoft to supply carbon-free energy from the plant to Microsoft's data centers, the notice said.1,2
NRC staff assessed areas including water resources, ecological resources, radiological and nonradiological human health, waste management and postulated accidents.1,2 They determined the impacts would be NOT SIGNIFICANT for each potentially affected environmental resource area.1,2
The staff said the environmental impacts of the no-action alternative could potentially be SIGNIFICANT, such as those from building and running new replacement power facilities.1,2
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Dominance Financing, a cooperating agency on the review, is considering a loan guarantee for refueling and resuming operations at the plant.1,2 At the conclusion of the NRC environmental review, DOE will publish a separate notice or decision document, as appropriate, the NRC said.1,2
The notice was dated Sept 22.1,2 Exelon Generation Company, LLC, which then operated the plant, submitted certifications in 2017 and 2019 that it would permanently cease operations and had removed fuel from the reactor.1,2 NRC staff issued a draft assessment in June 2026 and opened a 30-day public comment period.1,2