Restart targets first quarter 2029 return, pending regulatory approval
The 615-megawatt Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County is Iowa’s only nuclear plant, and NextEra Energy is targeting a return to service by the first quarter of 2029, the company said Tuesday. The restart remains subject to regulatory approval.
NextEra CEO John Ketchum framed the project as a way to expand energy supply while protecting Iowa consumers. “By bringing new generation online to serve new demand, we can strengthen the grid, create hundreds of good-paying jobs and help ensure Iowa families and businesses are not asked to bear the costs of growth,” Ketchum said.
Ketchum connected the restart to the Administration’s broader energy agenda. “We appreciate the Administration’s leadership in advancing America’s nuclear renaissance and share its commitment to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that expands supply, strengthens energy security and keeps America competitive,” he said.
The restart effort is being financed in part by a U.S. Department of Energy loan of up to $1.9 billion that NextEra closed on Tuesday. The company first announced plans to restart the facility in October.
The loan was completed through the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing.