Duke Energy has submitted an early site permit (ESP) application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a site located near the Belews Creek coal-fired power plant in Stokes County, North Carolina, USA.

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The company said that it aims to address site suitability and environmental safety questions well in advance of any construction decision.

Duke Energy’s ESP application is technology neutral, allowing it to select a specific reactor technology later. The current application includes data for six potential reactor technologies, including four SMRs.

Kendal Bowman, President of Duke Energy North Carolina, said that the submission is a formal step in assessing whether the Belews Creek site can support SMR technology.

Duke Energy said in a press release: “The company plans to add 600 MW of advanced nuclear to the system by 2037, with the first SMR coming online in 2036.”