A newly approved license amendment request from Constellation Energy Corp. will bolster the company’s work to preserve and expand nuclear generation at Pennsylvania’s Limerick Clean Energy Center, one of the nation’s top-rated nuclear facilities.
Constellation said Tuesday that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved its request for Limerick’s Digital Modernization Project, a first‑of‑its‑kind upgrade that’s part of the company’s $5.1 billion investment across Pennsylvania to preserve nearly 5,100 existing megawatts (MW) and add another 1,200 MW to further stabilize energy prices.
“This project spotlights how important the ongoing operation of our current nuclear reactor fleet is to our country’s energy security,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish. “Upgrading nuclear power plants with advanced digital systems will help ensure that Americans continue to have access to affordable and abundant energy today and in the future.”
Located along the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pa., about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Limerick’s two nuclear units provide up to 2,317 MW of carbon‑free electricity, enough to power more than 1.7 million homes.
The Digital Modernization Project at the Pottstown, Pa., generation plant replaces select analog instrumentation and control equipment with state‑of‑the‑art digital platforms designed to improve equipment monitoring, provide a broader range of automation, and support additional operational flexibility with enhanced reliability.
The upgrades will help Limerick deliver around‑the‑clock, carbon‑free electricity to power homes, businesses, and new data‑driven industries that are creating jobs in the region, said Constellation.
“Every dollar we invest to enhance and modernize the nation’s largest nuclear fleet will pay dividends for American families and businesses by creating jobs, keeping costs down, improving reliability, and adding much-needed capacity to fuel economic growth,” said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation.
The project installation will be done in phases and managed to ensure safety and operational continuity, said Constellation, noting that the physical installation of the digital control rooms is planned to occur during upcoming refueling outages.
During such scheduled outages, Limerick will have thousands of additional skilled craft workers to support the work, providing a boost to the local economy through a surge in spending on lodging, dining, and services.