One Year Later: Crane Clean Energy Center Still in the Spotlight and Ahead of Schedule
Saturday marked a significant milestone for America’s energy sector: the one-year anniversary of Constellation’s announcement to restart the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor. Now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center (Crane), the project represents more than just a restart of a nuclear facility—it symbolizes a renewed recognition of nuclear power’s critical role in strengthening grid reliability, creating jobs, and delivering emissions-free electricity at a time of rapidly growing energy demand.
When Three Mile Island Unit 1 shut down in 2019, it was still one of the top-performing nuclear facilities in the country. Its closure, driven by unfavorable economic conditions and market structures that undervalued the reliability of nuclear power, was widely seen as a blow to both local communities and the broader U.S. clean energy effort. Fast forward to 2023, and Constellation’s decision to restart the plant, supported by a landmark 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft, has changed the narrative. The agreement not only secures a buyer for Crane’s emissions-free electricity but also demonstrates how some of the world’s largest technology companies are directly investing in nuclear energy to power the digital economy.
For Constellation, the move has been transformative. In the past year, the company has accelerated the restart timeline by two years to 2027, hired hundreds of skilled workers, and pushed forward with key technical, regulatory, and community engagement milestones.
A Turning Point for Nuclear Energy
The restart of Crane is widely viewed as a symbolic turning point for the nuclear industry in the United States. For years, nuclear plants were closing despite being reliable, carbon-free sources of power. Policymakers often favored other renewable resources without fully accounting for the value of always-available baseload energy.
Joe Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation, emphasized this point in his anniversary remarks. “Six years ago, the closure of this plant symbolized more than a decade of policy failures that focused only on new clean energy resources that couldn’t match the reliability of nuclear energy, and both the security of our energy grid and air quality suffered,” he said. “Today it symbolizes the best in American innovation and an overdue recognition that we need to value and invest in existing sources of clean and reliable energy as we also build the grid of the future.”
By moving ahead with Crane, Constellation is also sending a clear signal: existing nuclear plants are vital assets that must be preserved and upgraded. Beyond the restart itself, the company is pursuing investments to increase the output of its entire nuclear fleet, potentially adding as much as 2,000 megawatts of additional clean baseload capacity to the grid.
State Leadership and Policy Support
Support for the Crane project extends beyond industry. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro applauded the restart as a major step forward for the state’s energy and economic future. “In Pennsylvania, we’re doubling down on our energy legacy by taking big, decisive steps to build new sources of power,” Shapiro said. “As an all-of-the-above energy Governor, I hope to produce even more energy here in Pennsylvania from all sources – from natural gas and solar to geothermal to nuclear. I’m excited for projects like the Crane Clean Energy Center that will bring even more energy onto the grid because by creating more energy, we will create more opportunity for Pennsylvanians.”
This bipartisan recognition of nuclear energy’s value aligns with growing public support nationwide. As the U.S. confronts rising electricity demand from data centers, electrification of transportation, and the broader digital economy, nuclear energy is increasingly viewed as indispensable.
Milestones Achieved Over the Past Year
In the twelve months since announcing the restart, Constellation has made measurable progress across workforce development, site upgrades, technical readiness, and community investment.
Workforce and Site Development
- Crane is already nearly 80% staffed, with 500 full-time employees on-site and dozens more expected in the coming months.
- A second Initial License Training class will begin in early 2026, giving new reactor operators the opportunity to train and earn licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
- Major inspections have been completed on steam generators, the main generator, emergency diesel generators, and underground piping. Enhancements have also been made to the training center and control room simulator, ensuring that both systems and staff are ready for operations.
Technical and Regulatory Progress
- Constellation’s interconnection request to PJM, the regional grid operator, received accelerated approval. This cleared a key hurdle for integration into the power system and allowed the company to advance the restart schedule to 2027.
- NRC licensing and regulatory reviews are progressing on track, supported by a dedicated Restart Panel conducting oversight.
- Earlier this year, the NRC also approved renaming the facility as the Christopher M. Crane Clean Energy Center, honoring the late industry leader. A video tribute highlighting his legacy is available on Constellation’s website.
- Constellation continues to work with state and local environmental agencies to secure water use and environmental protection permits, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainability.
Economic Impact and Community Engagement
- An independent study confirmed that the restart will generate approximately 3,400 direct and indirect jobs, add more than $16 billion to Pennsylvania’s GDP, and provide over $3 billion in state and federal tax revenue.
- Constellation has pledged $1 million in charitable giving over five years to support local organizations and workforce development programs. In 2025 alone, the company donated $200,000 to more than a dozen nonprofits and community initiatives.
