Duane Arnold Energy Center
Duane Arnold Energy Center is a single-unit boiling-water nuclear power plant operated by NextEra Energy Duane Arnold, LLC, located in Palo, Linn County, Iowa. The facility began commercial operation in February 1975 following a construction permit granted in June 1970. The plant's operating license (DPR-49) was issued February 22, 1974, renewed December 16, 2010, and expires February 21, 2034. The single reactor has 1,912 MWt licensed thermal capacity and a FERC-registered capacity of 679.5 MW. The facility permanently ceased power operations on August 10, 2020, following derecho damage to cooling towers and associated plant equipment. All spent fuel was removed from the reactor by October 12, 2020. The plant entered SAFSTOR decommissioning status with spent fuel moved to dry-cask storage in the independent spent-fuel-storage installation by April 2022. As of 2025–2026, NextEra Energy is pursuing NRC approvals to reauthorize power operations and return the facility to service by the first quarter of 2029, subject to regulatory approval. Google and Central Iowa Power Cooperative have committed to purchase power from the restarted facility under long-term agreements. The NRC issued a draft environmental assessment and draft finding of no significant impact for public comment on August 3, 2026.