US: Vistra’s 1,268 MW nuclear power plant gets 20-year life extension boost

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a 20-year license extension for Vistra’s 1,268 MW Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio, allowing it to operate until 2046. Originally licensed for 40 years since its grid connection in 1986, the plant now has a total operating license of 60 years. This extension follows Vistra’s 2023 application and marks the final life extension approval for all six reactors in Vistra’s fleet, enabling continued emission-free electricity supply. Perry is one of the largest boiling water reactors (BWR) in the U.S., with a licensed thermal output of 3,758 MWt after an upgrade in 2020. Located on a 1,100-acre site on Lake Erie, Perry Nuclear Power Plant powers approximately one million homes daily. Although initially planned to have two reactor units, only one was built, with the second canceled in 1994. Vistra officials emphasized the importance of nuclear power