Constellation Energy secures 20-year license extensions for two nuclear plants

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Constellation Energy CEG.O said on Tuesday the U.S nuclear regulator has approved 20-year license renewals for its Clinton and Dresden clean energy centers.

The U.S. power company will invest more than $370 million to relicense the nuclear plants to boost efficiency and ensure reliability.

The company said the approvals will allow Clinton to operate through 2047 and Dresden reactors to operate through 2049 and 2051.

U.S. nuclear power is experiencing a surge in demand after decades of stagnation, driven by record demand from data centers used for artificial intelligence technologies and the electrification of industries such as transportation and manufacturing.

President Donald Trump in May signed executive orders directing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to cut down on regulations and fast-track new licenses for reactors and power plants.

"These license extensions will allow Clinton and Dresden to stay online for another two decades, preserving more than 2,200 family-sustaining jobs and $8.1 billion in federal, state and local tax dollars," said Constellation Energy chief generation officer Bryan Hanson.

The company in June struck a deal with Meta META.O to keep one of the utility's reactors in Illinois operating for 20 years, in the Big Tech company's first such deal with a nuclear power plant.