49-year U.S. nuclear power site prepares for future with four SMR-300 reactors

The US has approved the final cleanup plan for the nation’s oldest nuclear power plant ahead of its transformation into a new energy hub featuring four SMR-300 small modular reactors. Holtec International, the New Jersey-based company decommissioning the Oyster Creek nuclear plant, said on July 30 that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval of the License Termination Plan (LTP) marks a key step toward the site’s redevelopment. According to the company, more than half of the nuclear plant’s dismantlement has already been completed. The approved LTP establishes the roadmap for the final phase of decommissioning and site restoration before the former nuclear plant can be fully released from its operating license. Jeff Dostal, Oyster Creek’s VP, called the approval a validation of the company’s work. “We will continue to execute the remaining work with the same discipline, professionalism, and focus on safety that have guided the project to date,” he explained. Site transformation begins Holtec International plans to redevelop the site with four SMR-300 small modular reactors after decommissioning is complete. The reactors will reportedly feature a combined generating capacity of about 1,360 megawatts electric (MWe). If completed, the project could create an estimated 4,000 construction jobs and more than 400 permanent positions. According to the company, it could support additional employment through supply chains. The Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, NJ, before dismantling.Credit: Holtec International The initiative could also generate increased tax revenue, encourage infrastructure investment, and potentially support the integration of AI data centers alongside the advanced nuclear facility. “The approved LTP provides the roadmap for the final phase of decommissioning and site restoration,” Dostal said. Recent pro-nuclear legislation in the state, along with longstanding local support for nuclear energy, has reinforced plans to restore nuclear power at Oyster Creek. The site is located about 54 miles from Holtec’s headquarters in Camden. It would allow advanced nuclear technology to be generated and produced in the state. A historic US nuclear site Oyster Creek was the oldest operating commercial nuclear power plant in the US until its closure. It started generating electricity in December 1969, and remained in operation for nearly 49 years before permanently shutting down in September 2018. During its operating lifetime, the nuclear plant produced more than 192 terawatt-hours (TWh) of carbon-free electricity. This made it one of the country’s longest-serving commercial nuclear power stations. The Oyster Creek redevelopment is still subject to future licensing and regulatory approvals. However, the NRC’s approval of the LTP is a crucial step for the site’s dismantling. “We believe the NRC’s approval is a testament to the quality of our technical work, the strength of our regulatory engagement, and our culture of safety and accountability throughout the decommissioning process,” Dostal concluded in a statement. Holtec’s broader nuclear strategy extends beyond Oyster Creek. The company is also developing its SMR-300 reactor technology for deployment at the Palisades site in Michigan, where it expects the first two units to be installed. The firm is also refurbishing the Palisades nuclear plant. The restart would mark the first time a permanently shut-down commercial US reactor has returned to service. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.