Energy Mechanics · Electricity · Nuclear generation

The carbon-free
baseload backbone

NUCLEAR · TWh/YR · GW
RELEASE · EIA EPM TABLE 1.1.A & NRC FLEET STATUS
VINTAGE · —
NEXT EPM · —
PWR + BWR · 94 REACTORS
STATUS · LOADING
U.S. nuclear generation is — TWh/year — the largest single carbon-free source, with the highest capacity factor of any generation type (— average). The fleet is 94 operating reactors at 54 sites across 28 states, split between two designs: Pressurized Water Reactors (the dominant Westinghouse/CE/B&W design) and Boiling Water Reactors (GE, older fleet, fewer new builds globally). No new nuclear capacity came online in the U.S. between 1996 and 2023, when Vogtle 3 & 4 (AP1000) finally connected.
Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Unused capacity (refueling outages) bar length ∝ TWh/year · capacity factor ≈ generation ÷ (capacity × 8,760 h)
REACTOR TYPE · TWh/YEAR CAPACITY (GW) & CAPACITY FACTOR Pressurized Water Reactors WESTINGHOUSE · COMBUSTION ENGINEERING · BABCOCK & WILCOX — Capacity — GW · — reactors CF — · 18–24-month refueling cycle Vogtle 3 & 4 (AP1000) are the only new PWRs since 1996. Subsequent license renewals push leading units to 80-year operation. Boiling Water Reactors GE BWR/3 · BWR/4 · BWR/6 — OLDER FLEET — Capacity — GW · — reactors CF — · same Fukushima-style design as the 2011 incident Most U.S. reactor retirements since 2013 (Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, Oyster Creek, Indian Point) have been BWRs or older PWRs. TOP GENERATING STATES · TWh/YEAR Illinois — Constellation's 6-reactor fleet · most nuclear in U.S. Pennsylvania — Three Mile Island restart · Microsoft PPA · Susquehanna + Limerick South Carolina — V.C. Summer + Catawba + Oconee · Summer 2 & 3 build cancelled 2017 Alabama — TVA's Browns Ferry (3 BWRs) + Farley · among most reliable in U.S. North Carolina — Duke Energy fleet · Brunswick + Harris + McGuire TOP 5 STATES = — OF U.S. NUCLEAR · REMAINDER ACROSS 23 OTHER STATES (NY, GA, OH, TX, AZ, …)
Total nuclear generation
—
vs 5 yrs ago
—
Total nameplate capacity
—
GW · PWR + BWR
Average capacity factor
—
highest of any source
Share of U.S. generation
—
largest carbon-free source
SOURCE · U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (Table 1.1.A net generation) and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission operating-reactor status. Per-state numbers are EIA EPM Table 1.6.B. Capacity factor = generation ÷ (capacity × 8,760 hours/year). Nuclear's CF leads every other generation type because the fuel runs continuously between refueling outages (~18–24 months apart, lasting ~25 days). The U.S. fleet is split — PWRs / — BWRs by unit count; PWRs include the new AP1000 design at Vogtle 3 & 4 (online 2023–2024). Subsequent license renewal (extending operation from 60 to 80 years) has been approved for Turkey Point, Peach Bottom, Surry, and North Anna — adding capacity without new construction. Recently retired reactors: Vermont Yankee (2014), Crystal River (2013), Kewaunee (2013), San Onofre 2 & 3 (2013), Pilgrim (2019), Indian Point 2 & 3 (2020–21), Palisades (2022, restart pending), Diablo Canyon (extended to 2030).
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