The U.S. Department of Energy has closed a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy to help restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa, which ceased operations in 2020. Pending required Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals, the restart will return 615 megawatts of nuclear capacity to the grid—enough to power nearly 500,000 homes—and help meet growing electricity demand across Iowa and the Midwest.
The project is expected to create nearly 1,500 construction jobs and support more than 450 permanent operating jobs. DOE said the financing is part of its broader effort to restart existing nuclear plants and expand U.S. nuclear generation.
