Duke Energy will seek to renew the operating licenses of the 11 reactors it operates at six nuclear stations in the Carolinas, the company announced Thursday.

Duke Energy’s first nuclear power plants will approach the end of their current operating licenses in the early 2030s. The company plans to renew them for an additional 20 years.

The nuclear plants are necessary for the company to reach its goal to be net-carbon neutral by 2050, Duke Energy said in a press release.

“These plants generate clean and cost-effective power, provide thousands of well-paying jobs, and produce substantial economic benefits for the Carolinas,” Chief Nuclear Officer Preston Gillespie said in a press release. “Renewing the licenses of these plants is important for our customers, communities and environment.”

The company will begin the renewal process by submitting the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station, the company’s largest nuclear station, in 2021. Oconee has three generating units that produce more than 2,500 megawatts.

Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. Its shares were trading at $94.05 on Thursday, down 22 cents.