The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding a mandatory hearing this month for final review and approval of the Combined License (COL) for STP Units 3 &4. In the hearing, the Commission will determine whether the staff’s review supports the findings necessary to issue the license. Following the mandatory hearing, the Commission will vote on whether to authorize staff to issue the license. The license is expected to be issued in early 2016.

In September, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff completed its Final Safety Evaluation Report (FSER) for a COL for STP Units 3&4. The report concludes there are no safety aspects that would preclude issuing the license for the proposed units. During the past several years, Nuclear Innovation North America (NINA) – the nuclear development company jointly owned by NRG Energy and Toshiba – has continued to work on securing a license for the project.

“This is a major milestone for the project,” said NINA CEO Mark McBurnett. “We are pleased with the progress and believe that new nuclear is important for Texas. Our team has worked hard to resolve the challenges associated with the license review.

“Having this license will enable us to move quickly when market conditions are appropriate,” said McBurnett. “NINA is continuing to work on business development and the steps necessary to move the project forward.”

When STP was constructed three decades ago, the site was designed for four units and has the land, water and transmission infrastructure to support the expansion.

STP Units 3 & 4 Background

STP Units 3 & 4 was the first new build license application filed with the NRC in more than three decades in September 2007.

STP Units 3 & 4 will be Advanced Boiling Water Reactors.

In 2011, NINA became the lead applicant in the project.

In February 2011, Final Environmental Impact Statement published.

In April 2011, due to uncertainties following the Fukushima accident, NRG Energy announced that it end its financial participation in the project. However, NRG continues to support Toshiba – as a partner in NINA – in its pursuit of a federal license.

Foreign Ownership, Control and Domination issue resolved in 2014.

ACRS Letter issued in February 2015

Mandatory NRC Commission Hearings scheduled November 19, 2015.