Holtec International announced on July 30 that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the License Termination Plan for the retired Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, New Jersey. The approval reflects work by Holtec's engineering, radiation protection, environmental services, and licensing departments as decommissioning of the site passes the halfway mark.
Oyster Creek began producing electricity in December 1969 and operated for nearly 49 years, generating more than 192 terawatt hours of carbon-free electricity before it permanently shut down in September 2018. It had been the oldest operating commercial nuclear power plant in the country.
With the license termination plan approved, Holtec is moving forward with plans to build four SMR-300 small modular reactors at the site. The units would have a combined capacity of 1,360 megawatts electric and could support an estimated 4,000 construction jobs and more than 400 permanent positions, along with additional jobs through local supply chain development. Holtec said the project could also bring increased tax revenue, infrastructure investment, and potential integration with AI data centers.
"We believe the NRC's approval is a testament to the quality of our technical work, the strength of our regulatory engagement, and our culture of safety and accountability throughout the decommissioning process," said Oyster Creek Site Vice President Jeff Dostal.
The project follows the recent passage of pro-nuclear legislation in New Jersey. Holtec is also the NRC-authorized operator working to restart the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan, which the company says would be the first commercial reactor in the country to resume operation after a permanent shutdown.
Source: Holtec International (GlobeNewswire) - https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/30/3336016/0/en/oyster-creek-s-license-termination-plan-approved-by-the-usnrc-oyster-creek-project-planned-to-feature-four-smr-300-units.html