US nuclear generation continues to supply close to 20% of the nation's electricity, according to Energy Information Administration data, even as the agency projects a major capacity buildout across the power sector in the years ahead. The EIA tracks operable units, net generation, nuclear's share of total electricity, and capacity factors through its monthly and annual data series.

The agency's 2026 outlook projects substantial capacity additions as data centers reshape electricity demand. Rising load from computing infrastructure and broader electrification is driving forecasts for new generation across multiple sources, with firm baseload power in particular demand.

Nuclear's contribution has stayed stable despite the shifting mix. The existing fleet's combined net summer capacity of about 98,441 megawatts anchors a reliable share of supply, and its high output consistency supports grid stability as intermittent sources expand.

The data frames the central question for the sector: existing reactors provide dependable output, but new demand is arriving faster than new nuclear capacity can be built. The EIA's figures show a fleet holding its share today while the longer-term outlook depends on how quickly advanced reactors and new projects can move from planning to operation against a steeply rising demand curve.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration -- https://www.eia.gov/nuclear/generation/