Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing has announced a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Linn County, Iowa, the state’s only nuclear power plant. The initiative supports advancing U.S. nuclear energy leadership and energy security, according to DOE officials.
The restart is expected to restore 615 megawatts of reliable baseload generation capacity, enough to power nearly 500,000 homes. It aims to meet growing electricity demand in Iowa and the broader Midwest. The project is estimated to create about 1,500 jobs during construction and sustain more than 450 jobs during operation.
Duane Arnold ceased operations in 2020. Its restart is subject to required approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. DOE representatives said the loan is part of a broader strategy to expand U.S. nuclear energy, including restarting existing reactors and supporting new projects.
According to the Department of Energy, the Office of Energy Dominance Financing has now completed financing for three nuclear plant restarts and four related conditional commitments, aiming to accelerate American energy production.