Fermi 2 Power Plant Will Seek License Renewal

NEWPORT, Mich., July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant today notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it intends to apply for renewal of Fermi 2's operating license. The current license expires in 2025; the renewal would permit the plant to operate an additional 20 years.

"Fermi 2 has produced safe, clean, reliable power for the past 23 years, and we want to continue serving the needs of southeast Michigan with our energy," Joe Plona, Fermi 2 site vice president, said.  "We're proud to be part of this community and we look forward to continuing that service for many years to come."

DTE Energy will submit the Fermi 2 application to the NRC in 2014. Between now and that time, Fermi 2 will prepare for the application by conducting detailed engineering and environmental studies, in which plant systems and structures will be evaluated. The NRC then will review the application.

It is important to distinguish between the Fermi 2 license renewal and the current application for a new nuclear power facility located on the Fermi site. DTE Energy filed an application with the NRC in 2008 for a Combined Operating License for a new nuclear unit at the Fermi site. Although the company expects that license to be issued in late 2012, it has not yet decided when the new plant might be built.

Fermi 2 has produced nearly 166 billion kilowatthours of low-cost, carbon-free electricity for customers since it began commercial operation in 1988.  The license extension will enable DTE Energy to maintain safe and cost-effective production in the future.

Fermi 2 also plays a positive role in the local community, with direct economic contributions to the Michigan economy through employee compensation and wages, purchases of goods and services from Michigan businesses and property tax payments. Fermi 2 employees are active supporters of the local community, raising funds for local charities and providing many volunteer hours with local community organizations.

Fermi 2, a 1,140-megawatt nuclear power plant, is owned and operated by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy.  DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com and at twitter.com/dte_energy.

SOURCE DTE Energy