US regulator grants waiver for Three Mile Island restart

• FERC approved transferring grid connection rights from Constellation's Eddystone natural gas plant to Three Mile Island, circumventing a regional grid operator requirement that would have delayed operations until 2031
• The nuclear plant is being restarted specifically to supply emissions-free power to Microsoft data centers in the region, with a targeted restart date of 2027
• The waiver does not affect U.S. Department of Energy emergency orders requiring the Eddystone gas plant to continue operating past its planned retirement date

Summary: US Regulator Grants Waiver for Three Mile Island Restart

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a waiver on Monday evening allowing Constellation Energy to accelerate the restart of Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, now renamed Crane Clean Energy Center. The facility is being resurrected specifically to supply power to Microsoft data centers in the region.

Key Development: FERC granted Constellation the ability to transfer grid rights from its Eddystone natural gas-fired power plant near Philadelphia to Three Mile Island, circumventing a regional grid operator assessment that had delayed the plant's grid connection until 2031. This waiver restores Constellation's target restart date of 2027.

Companies Involved:

• Constellation Energy (plant owner/operator)
• Microsoft (primary customer for power supply)
• PJM (regional grid operator)

Market Implications: The decision represents a significant milestone in the growing intersection of nuclear power and technology infrastructure, particularly data centers' increasing energy demands. Constellation emphasized the plant will deliver "reliable, emissions-free energy to the PJM region as quickly as possible," supporting clean energy transition goals while meeting rising electricity needs.

Additional Details: The FERC waiver will not impact U.S. Department of Energy emergency orders requiring the Eddystone facility to continue operating beyond its planned retirement date, ensuring grid reliability during the transition.

This development highlights regulatory support for nuclear energy revival and reflects the tech sector's growing power requirements, potentially setting precedent for future public-private energy partnerships focused on carbon-free baseload generation.