The United States operates 94 licensed nuclear power reactors that together generate close to 20 percent of the nation's electricity, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute's State of the Nuclear Industry report. The figures frame nuclear as the largest source of carbon-free electricity in the country and a steady contributor to baseload supply.

The industry is pursuing growth on multiple fronts. Utilities are seeking license renewals at roughly 20 plants and power uprates at 29 units, steps that extend the life and raise the output of the existing fleet without new construction. Members also report 23.4 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity planned over the next 15 years, a pipeline that spans large reactors and advanced designs.

The report ties the renewed momentum to rising electricity demand, including load growth from data centers and electrification, and to federal policy support for the nuclear fuel cycle. Plants that were once slated for closure are being restarted, and the regulatory framework is being modernized to handle a larger volume of applications. The data presents an industry shifting from a long period of flat capacity toward expansion, with both the existing fleet and new builds positioned to supply firm, low-carbon power to a growing grid.

Source: Nuclear Energy Institute - https://www.nei.org/news/state-of-the-nuclear-industry-2026