Nuclear power remains a cornerstone of the U.S. electricity supply, with 94 licensed reactors generating close to 20 percent of the nation's electricity in 2026. The fleet is the largest single source of carbon-free generation in the country, operating largely as baseload capacity that runs around the clock.
The reliability profile is a defining feature. Nuclear plants deliver steady output regardless of weather, a characteristic that has drawn renewed interest as grid operators contend with rapid load growth from data centers and electrification. That steadiness underpins utility planning even as variable resources expand.
The current fleet is aging but durable. Regulators have repeatedly extended plant operating licenses, with utilities pursuing renewals at 20 plants and uprates at 29 units to squeeze more capacity from existing sites. Georgia's Hatch plant, cleared in 2026 for another two decades, illustrates how license renewal keeps long-running reactors in service well beyond their original terms.
With the addition of Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the country expanded new nuclear capacity for the first time in more than 30 years, a signal that the fleet may grow rather than simply hold steady.
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute - https://www.nei.org/resources/statistics