Business
Duke Energy submits early site permit application for potential new nuclear development in North Carolina
Duke Energy announced today its submission of an early site permit (ESP) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a site near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, N.C., culminating two years of work. The submittal is part of the company's strategic, ongoing commitment to thoroughly evaluate new nuclear generation options to reliably meet the growing energy needs of its customers while reducing costs and risks.
About this update from Duke Energy Corporation (holding Company)
[{"type":"list","items":[{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Application advances licensing activities while reducing costs and risks for customers and investors","length":100,"tagName":"p"}]}],"tagName":"ul","bulletedList":true,"length":100,"olType":false},{"type":"text","content":"CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy announced today its submission of an early site permit (ESP) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a site near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, N.C., culminating two years of work. The submittal is part of the company's strategic, ongoing commitment to thoroughly evaluate new nuclear generation options to reliably meet the growing energy needs of its customers while reducing costs and risks.","length":499,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Duke Energy logo (PRNewsfoto/Duke Energy)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Duke Energy logo (PRNewsfoto/Duke Energy)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":128,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/829a69c01f1ce34f867ba8075a40a22b"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AZkz2p7IVk.0RFE.fpGQ7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTIyNjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/829a69c01f1ce34f867ba8075a40a22b","width":400,"height":128}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660545/Duke_Energy_New_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"Submitting an ESP application is a first for Duke Energy and a risk-mitigation strategy for the company as it pursues new nuclear generation options. An ESP is an optional NRC process that resolves environmental and site safety topics on the front end of a project and confirms a site's suitability for new nuclear generation. Having an approved permit reduces the risk of delays during licensing and construction if the company decides to build new nuclear units in Stokes County in the future.","length":499,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Nuclear energy has and will continue to play an essential role in powering communities in the Carolinas," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "Submitting an early site permit application is an important next step in assessing the potential for small modular reactors at the Belews Creek site.&q...