This is a big win for Vistra. Additionally, the company’s nuclear division has gained approval for a 20-year extension of the operating license for their Perry Nuclear Plant in Ohio. Having first connected to the grid in 1986, Perry has been operating on its original 40-year licence. This extension is anticipated to provide substantial long-term economic benefits to the Valley community. Second, it will further solidify the plant’s place as a leader and trusted provider of reliable, emission-free energy.
In addition, the Perry Nuclear Plant directly employs over 600 full-time staff while supporting over 200 permanent contractors. The facility is an important contributor to the local economy that supports hundreds of local families’ livelihoods in the process. Perry’s regularly scheduled refueling outages attract 800-1,200 highly specialized technicians from all over the U.S. This massive influx of talent underscores the importance of the site to the region’s skilled labor pipeline.
Economic Benefits to the Community
Granting Perry’s continued operating licence extension preserves the important, highly-skilled jobs in the local community. It further increases the amount of economic activity that continues in the region. Nuclear energy is absolutely essential if we want to preserve a clean, reliable power grid. By keeping Perry open, he guarantees a large source of baseload power. This reliability is crucial, especially as electricity demand grows at a rapid pace.
Jim Burke, CEO of Vistra, highlighted the broader implications of the licence extension:
“Electricity is a basic building block of our economy, and as demand accelerates, nuclear power remains a cornerstone of a reliable, sustainable grid. Extending operations at Perry ensures that Ohio continues to benefit from a resilient source of baseload power, supporting jobs, economic activity and grid reliability across the region.”
With this approval, all six reactors in Vistra’s nuclear fleet have now been granted license extensions. This decision further cements their long-term value to the communities they serve.
Safety and Professionalism at Perry
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) took a hard look—their highest level of review—and the Perry plant came through with flying colors. This accomplishment reflects their operational excellence as well as a commitment to a robust safety culture. Ken Peters, Vice President of the plant, emphasized the commitment of the team to operational excellence:
“Our dedicated Perry team is committed to the highest standards of operational excellence, and we take great pride in delivering reliable, clean power to Ohio and the broader PJM region. This 20-year licence extension reflects the strength of our safety culture, the condition of the plant and the professionalism of our workforce.”
The licencing extension underscores both the quality of work performed at Perry and the dedication of its workforce to upholding safety standards.
The Future of Nuclear Energy in Ohio
Though Perry’s licence extension is a welcome development, it is more closely tied to the operational timelines of similarly situated nuclear facilities in the region. Beaver Valley Unit One isn’t going anywhere soon—it has a license to operate until 2036. By comparison, Beaver Valley Unit Two is licensed to operate until 2047. Combined, these six nuclear reactors create more than 6,500 megawatts of emission-free energy. That’s some serious juice — enough to power nearly 3.25 million homes!
