Dominion Energy Renews Early Site Permit for North Anna Nuclear Plant

Dominion Energy Virginia is taking steps to renew the early site permit for its North Anna nuclear power plant, originally issued in 2007. Located in Louisa County, the North Anna plant currently operates two reactors. The company submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on July 14, seeking to extend the early site permit for a period of 20 years, or 20 years from the date of issuance, whichever is later. The NRC has formally acknowledged receipt of the request and is reviewing it for docketing acceptance.

An early site permit is an optional process through which the NRC can confirm whether a site is suitable for a new nuclear power plant; obtaining such a permit can reduce risks of delays during the licensing and construction process. This permit is independent of an application for a construction permit or a combined construction and operating license, and is technology-neutral, allowing for the selection of technology later in the development process. In November 2007, shortly after the NRC issued early site permits for two potential new nuclear units at the existing North Anna plant, which operates two pressurized water reactors, Dominion submitted an application to build and operate North Anna Unit 3, referencing the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) design. The NRC granted the license in 2017, known as a COL.

In 2024, Dominion Energy issued a request for proposals to reactor suppliers to evaluate the feasibility of developing small modular reactors at North Anna. In its renewal application, Dominion requested a full renewal of the early site permit and stated that the company "may seek a license for a reactor design different from the ESBWR." It also formally notified the regulator of the deferral of the COL and stated that no construction activities have been initiated.

North Anna Units 1 and 2 are 944 MWe pressurized water reactors that began commercial operation in 1978 and 1980, respectively, with an initial 40-year lifespan that was extended by 20 years in 2003. In 2024, both units received a second (or subsequent) operating license renewal, allowing them to achieve an 80-year operating lifespan, and they are now licensed to operate through 2058 and 2060. Dominion Energy spokesperson Tim Eberly stated that the recent permit and license renewals represent regulatory maintenance for the North Anna plant.