The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact on June 8, 2026, advancing the federal environmental review for the restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center, formerly known as Three Mile Island Unit 1, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The preliminary FONSI covers the environmental assessment required under federal law for the facility's restart and license amendment.
The NRC action follows FERC's June 1 approval of the capacity rights transfer from the Eddystone Units 3 and 4 coal plants to the Crane facility, a commercial arrangement that underpins the restart's economic structure. Under the capacity agreement, Crane would provide up to 760 megawatts of capacity to the PJM grid, with the plant's total output capacity reaching 835 megawatts.
Constellation Energy, which owns and operates the Crane facility, plans to restart the unit in 2027. The plant's current operating license extends through 2034. Constellation has applied for a license extension that would allow operations through 2054.
The preliminary FONSI addresses the environmental effects of restarting a nuclear unit that was placed in long-term cold shutdown in 2019. The NRC noted in its assessment that the restart involves limited new construction and primarily restores previously permitted operations.
The Crane restart is among the most closely watched nuclear energy projects in the United States. Demand for zero-carbon electricity from major technology companies operating data centers across the PJM region has driven renewed interest in large-scale nuclear generation capacity that can provide firm, around-the-clock power.
Source: ANS Nuclear Newswire -- https://www.ans.org/news/2026-06-09/article-8106/nrc-issues-preliminary-eafonsi-for-crane-restart/