The United States operates 94 licensed commercial nuclear power reactors generating approximately 20% of the nation's electricity, more nuclear power than any other country on an absolute basis, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute's State of the Nuclear Industry 2026 report.

Key statistics from the NEI's 2026 nuclear industry assessment:

- Operating US nuclear reactors: 94 licensed reactors at 54 plant sites - Nuclear share of US electricity generation: approximately 20% - Nuclear capacity planned by US utilities over the next 15 years: 23.4 gigawatts - License renewal applications currently in progress: 20 plants - Power uprate applications in progress: 29 units - Long-term US nuclear investment projection through 2050: $2.2 trillion (Morgan Stanley) - Federal nuclear capacity target by 2050: 400 gigawatts (executive order) - Fastest-ever license renewal completed: Duke Energy Robinson Unit 2, 2026

Nuclear energy provides more zero-carbon electricity in the United States than any other source, including wind and solar combined. The sector's role in grid reliability has attracted renewed attention as data center and AI infrastructure growth pushes electricity demand to levels not seen in decades.

Holtec International received NRC approval to restart its Palisades plant in Michigan, previously closed in 2022, with restart operations targeted for 2026. Constellation's Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania is scheduled for restart in 2027.

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