The Tennessee Valley Authority announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating licenses for all three units at TVA’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, allowing continued operation through the mid-2050s.
This milestone ensures the plant will continue supplying safe, low-cost, clean, and reliable electricity to more than 2.2 million homes.
"The subsequent license renewal at Browns Ferry marks a proud and historic moment for TVA and the communities we serve," said TVA's President & CEO Don Moul. "This is more than a regulatory milestone - it affirms TVA's continued commitment to nuclear power and the future of American families, jobs and energy independence."
To commemorate this milestone, TVA hosted a signing ceremony with the NRC at the Browns Ferry site, celebrating the successful completion of the license renewal process. The event included remarks from NRC and TVA leadership recognizing employees for their work. Elected officials and community leaders voiced support for the plant’s continuing operation as an economic driver for the region.
“TVA is leading America's nuclear energy future, and this subsequent license renewal and continued investment in Browns Ferry represents another step toward energy dominance - where innovation powers our homes and opportunity fuels our communities,” said TVA’s Chief Nuclear Officer Matt Rasmussen. “This renewal is a reflection of the dedication of our employees - past and present - who have prioritized teamwork and innovation to make Browns Ferry one of the nation’s safest and most reliable nuclear plants.”
As the region’s population grows, Browns Ferry’s continued operation is essential to power the Tennessee Valley’s economic expansion, TVA said.
Rasmussen noted that the renewed licenses support TVA’s long-term energy dominance strategy and reflect the agency’s commitment to maintaining a resilient and affordable power system to attract the next generation of American jobs and raise the standard of living across the region.
“This is a strong example of how independent oversight and effective collaboration can deliver results that support our energy future,” said Jeremy Groom, Acting Director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. “The NRC confirmed that Browns Ferry’s reactors can safely operate for up to 80 years, and TVA’s responsiveness helped us complete our rigorous review nearly three months ahead of schedule.”
Plant Highlights:
• Browns Ferry is TVA’s largest generating asset and the third-largest nuclear power producer in the United States. The plant can produce up to 3,954 MW of electricity, powering more than two million homes and businesses.
• In 2022, TVA’s board authorized the agency to begin the process of applying for a subsequent license renewal and the plant’s license renewal reinforces TVA’s nuclear leadership.
• This milestone follows Browns Ferry's 50th anniversary celebration, marking decades of operational excellence and environmental stewardship.
TVA is currently in the process of upgrading its nuclear plants, which include over 400 projects aimed at enhancing performance and efficiency across its nuclear fleet. These upgrades are expected to add up to 244 megawatts of additional generation over the next 10 - 15 years; equivalent to bringing a small modular reactor online.
Key elements of the initiative include:
• Replacement of low-pressure turbines, feedwater heaters, and moisture separator reheaters
• Design and fabrication improvements to optimize steam system efficiency
• TVA will submit subsequent license renewal applications for the Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear plants.
