About the NIC
The Nuclear Information Center (NIC) provides an insider’s look into nuclear energy. Written by experts from Duke Energy's nuclear fleet, NIC articles feature nuclear industry insights including the benefits of nuclear energy, community events, emergency planning, videos and more.
Duke Energy’s Nuclear Fleet
By reliably providing power 24 hours a day, nuclear energy is an important part of our energy mix in the Carolinas. And, it's our nation's largest source of carbon-free electricity. Learn about how nuclear plants work.
Duke Energy operates 11 nuclear units at six sites in North Carolina and South Carolina. Together, these facilities can generate about 10,700 megawatts. Duke Energy’s nuclear plants generate about half of the electricity for our customers in the Carolinas, with production costs among the lowest in the nation.
Learn more about each of our nuclear facilities.
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Subsequent License Renewal
The first Duke Energy nuclear generating units will reach the end of their current operating licenses in the early 2030s. As we plan to meet our customers’ future energy needs and continue to reduce our carbon footprint, we are seeking to renew the licenses of the 11 nuclear units we operate at six plant sites in the Carolinas. This provides the option to operate these plants for an additional 20 years.
The company submitted the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in June 2021. Oconee is the company’s largest nuclear station, with three generating units that produce more than 2,500 megawatts. We will develop applications for the remaining plants and expect to submit those in approximately three-year intervals. Learn more about subsequent license renewal.
Sirens
Sirens are the primary outdoor warning system for alerting the public of an emergency. Learn more about sirens.
Please note: Regularly scheduled siren testing takes place on Wednesdays. Additional testing may occur at other times as part of ongoing maintenance.
Model Release form
