Duke Energy filed an early site permit (ESP) application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a site adjacent to the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, North Carolina. The filing, made on December 30, 2025, is the company’s first ESP and represents a key step in its plan to add 600 megawatts of advanced nuclear capacity by 2037.
The ESP is technology‑neutral, covering six potential reactor designs—four small modular reactor (SMR) concepts and two non‑light‑water designs. By addressing site‑specific safety and environmental issues early, the application allows Duke to defer a final technology choice while potentially shortening the licensing and construction timeline for future nuclear projects.
Duke’s long‑term resource plan targets 600 MW of advanced nuclear by 2037, with the first SMR potentially online in 2036 if the Belews Creek site proves optimal. The move aligns with the company’s goal to maintain a low‑carbon mix and meet growing demand in its regulated service territories.
Management highlighted the strategic value of the ESP. Kendal Bowman, Duke’s North Carolina president, said nuclear will continue to play an essential role in the Carolinas, while Kelvin Henderson, Chief Nuclear Officer, emphasized that the ESP “allows us to advance licensing activities while reducing risks and allowing technologies to mature.”
The ESP process can last roughly 18 months and is valid for 10‑20 years, giving Duke flexibility to renew or adjust plans as technology and market conditions evolve. The filing also signals Duke’s commitment to advanced nuclear amid a broader industry trend toward SMRs and other low‑carbon generation.
While the announcement does not affect current financials, it positions Duke to secure a reliable, dispatchable power source that can support grid reliability and future growth, potentially enhancing long‑term revenue stability.
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