The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating license of Xcel Energy’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant in Minnesota.
The federal approval allows the plant to operate an additional 20 years through 2050, provided the plant’s extended operation is also approved by state regulators.
Xcel Energy said Monticello’s continued operation will ensure that nuclear energy plays a foundational role in the company’s transition to 100 percent carbon-free electricity.
“The Monticello plant has long been an essential source of clean, safe and reliable energy, powering more than 500,000 homes annually in the Upper Midwest,” said Bob Frenzel, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. “As the only 24/7 carbon-free energy source we have, nuclear energy will be key to accelerating our journey to a clean-energy future, while ensuring we also meet the unprecedented growth in our customers’ demand for electricity.”
The plant’s li
