NRC shares Duane Arnold restart progress at public hearing

The communities in and around Duane Arnold had a chance on Tuesday evening to hear from Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials on the progress to restart Iowa's only nuclear power plant in early 2029.

Licensing, inspections and assessments, the noticing process, and the role of the restart panel were among the topics discussed at the public meeting, which was held in Cedar Rapids, Ia., with an option for virtual attendance.

Attendees were also able to ask questions about and comment on the restart of Duane Arnold's 615-MWe boiling water reactor. The Palo, Ia., plant is the third such facility attempting to transition from decommissioning status to operational. NextEra Energy has listed a restart target date of the first quarter of 2029.

Licensing updates: As part of the restart process, the licensee has submitted its requests for amendments required to transition Duane Arnold from decommissioning to operating. This includes a license amendment to restore conditions in the operating license and restore technical specifications, an amendment regarding emergency preparedness, and an amendment regarding the facility's security plan.

Justin Poole, project manager of the Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, said that the NRC will issue the bundle of licensing actions before January 2028. A notice on these amendment requests is planned to be issued on or about April 22, according to Tuesday's presentation. The notice will give the public a 30-day period to comment. There will also be a 60-day window to request a public hearing.

Actions that are still outstanding include the publication of the final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, if applicable. Poole said the licensee has already submitted a draft environmental assessment that is currently under review. The draft will be available to the public this summer and will be open for a public comment period.

Inspection updates: Inspections have been underway at Duane Arnold and will continue as inspectors gauge the plant's condition. April Nguyen, who is leading the restart team, said key areas being addressed include pumps, valves, piping, the structural integrity of the reactor vessel, and radiation protection.

Nguyen said NRC Region III-which oversees Iowa and Duane Arnold-has developed and will implement an inspection plan that assesses the plant's readiness to get back to operating status. This plan is available for public inspection.

Site inspections are scheduled for 2026, and some are already on the books for 2027. Already, two inspection reports are available for public viewing, Nguyen said.

The public weighs in: The in-person and virtual attendees of Tuesday's event included officials and representatives of local politicians and organizations. Barbra Solberg, the senior vice president of public policy and partnerships at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, spoke in support of the Duane Arnold restart, saying that "the economic impact of the restart will be immense."

NextEra cited a 2025 study that projected the economic impact of the restart, including the generation of more than $9 billion in economic benefits locally and for Iowa over 25 years.

"The restart signals an investment-friendly environment that will drive new opportunities and developments to our areas and ensure the continued growth of the Cedar Rapids area," Solberg said.