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Duke Energy Submits Early Site Permit Application to NRC for New Nuclear Reactors in North Carolina

LCG, December 30, 2025--Duke Energy announced today its submission of an early site permit (ESP) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The site is near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County, North Carolina. The submittal follows two years of work at the site, and the announcement states that the submittal is part of Duke Energy's strategic, on-going commitment to evaluate new nuclear generation options to reliably meet the growing electricity needs of its customers while reducing costs and risks.

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The NRC Issues Summary of 2025 Successes

LCG, December 29, 2025--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today issued a summary of its 2025 accomplishments to highlight its commitment to "enabling the safe and secure use of civilian nuclear energy and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation to benefit society and the environment."

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Industry News

Wind Turbines May Face Face Migratory Bird Restrictions

LCG, December 19, 2002-Wind turbine developers may have to alter their plans for a Maryland wind farm because of the danger the turbines may pose to migrating birds.

Several companies interested in building wind power facilities in Maryland may face certain new restrictions regarding when wind turbines may operate. State regulators are interested in mandating shutdown periods in order to protect migrating birds who could otherwise be killed by the large rotating blades.

Some people, such as the State House Speaker Casper Taylor, Jr., may find this concern ludicrous, noting that birds do not tend to fly into large moving objects. However, bird and bat deaths have been noted at wind farms before, particularly during cloudy nights.

The Sierra Club has taken the position that a more thorough study should be undertaken regarding the actual rates of bird deaths before permits are issued. Conversely, state regulators believe that the plants should be built and then bird mortality can be monitored.

U.S. Wind Force, one of the companies interested in building a wind farm, has already agreed to shut down its turbines for 18 hours per year if over 200 birds or bats are killed per windmill in one 24 hour period, or 5,000 birds in one day, a very large number by any estimate. Some endangered bird species have populations of less than 1,000.

Clipper Windpower, another interested company, has also agreed to the 5,000 bird or bat deaths per 24 hour period and has promised to shut down turbines for up to 53.7 hours per year. The longer shutdown was allotted to Clipper because of estimated greater bird activity at the project site.

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold hearings on January 7 and 14 for the Clipper and U.S. Wind Power's projects respectively.

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