NRC seeks comment on Dominion nuclear license transfer to NextEra

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced it is considering approval of an application to indirectly transfer the operating, materials and general licenses covering four nuclear power stations, filed on July 15, 2026, by NextEra Energy, Inc., Dominion Energy, Inc., Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO), Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut (DENC) and Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc. (DESC). The notice was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 165, of Thursday, August 27, 2026, under Docket ID NRC–2026–4060.

The application seeks NRC approval of the indirect transfer of control of the facility operating, materials and general licenses for Surry Power Station (Units 1 and 2), North Anna Power Station (Units 1 and 2), Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station (Unit 1) and Millstone Power Station (Units 1, 2 and 3), as well as the combined license for North Anna Unit 3 and the North Anna Early Site Permit. The filing contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI).

The merger behind the transfer

The indirect transfer arises from an Agreement and Plan of Merger among NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy, WG Development Corp. (Merger Sub Corp) and CS Holdco, LLC (Merger Sub LLC). According to the application, upon consummation of the merger, Merger Sub LLC will become a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy, making NextEra Energy the ultimate parent holding company for VEPCO, DENC and DESC.

At closing, VEPCO and DESC will continue to operate their nuclear reactors as regulated electric utilities in Virginia and South Carolina, respectively, while DENC will continue to operate its reactors as a competitive electricity generator in Connecticut. The application states there will be no indirect change of control of plants or licenses held by NextEra Energy entities, and no physical or operational changes are proposed.

Licenses covered by the application

The transfer would cover a broad set of licenses and permits across the four sites:

• Subsequent Renewed Facility Operating Licenses DPR–32 and DPR–37 for Surry, Units 1 and 2
• Subsequent Renewed Facility Operating Licenses NPF–4 and NPF–7 for North Anna, Units 1 and 2
• Facility Operating License DPR–21 and Renewed Facility Operating Licenses DPR–65 and NPF–49 for Millstone, Units 1, 2 and 3
• Subsequent Renewed Facility Operating License NPF–12 for V.C. Summer, Unit 1
• Renewed Materials Licenses SNM–2501 and SNM–2507 for the Surry and North Anna Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSIs), plus the general licenses for the ISFSIs at the other sites
• Combined License NPF–103 for North Anna Unit 3 and Early Site Permit 003 for North Anna

How to comment and seek a hearing

Under the NRC’s regulations at 10 CFR 50.80 and 72.50, no license may be transferred, directly or indirectly, through transfer of control unless the Commission gives its written consent. The NRC will approve the indirect transfer if it determines the proposed transfer will not affect the qualifications of the licensee and is otherwise consistent with applicable law, regulations and Commission orders.

• Comments on the license transfer application must be submitted within 30 days of publication, by September 28, 2026, under 10 CFR 2.1305.
• Hearing requests and petitions for leave to intervene must be filed within 20 days, by September 16, 2026, under 10 CFR 2.309.
• States, local governmental bodies, Federally recognized Indian Tribes and designated agencies may petition to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h) or as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c).

Comments may be filed through the Federal rulemaking website at regulations.gov, by email to Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov, by fax, mail or hand delivery, all referencing Docket ID NRC–2026–4060. The application itself is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML26196A362. The NRC contact is Edward Miller, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, at (301) 415–2481.

The decision affects four operating nuclear plants and their host communities in Virginia, South Carolina and Connecticut, and will determine whether NextEra Energy becomes the ultimate parent of a fleet spanning regulated utilities and a competitive generator. Public participation in the comment and hearing process is the principal avenue for host communities and other interested parties to weigh in on the ownership change before the Commission acts.

Source: Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 165, August 27, 2026, Notices, p. 55363 (official reference: FR Doc. 2026–17529; Docket ID NRC–2026–4060).