The United States is preparing to add nuclear generating capacity for the first time in years through a combination of plant restarts, power uprates, and new construction, according to industry capacity tracking. The 94 reactors now in service supply close to 20 percent of US electricity, and several idled units are being prepared to return.

The restart pipeline is the most immediate source of new capacity. Holtec's Palisades plant in Michigan is scheduled to return later this year as the first reactor approved by regulators for restart. Constellation's Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania, the former Three Mile Island site, is targeted for a late 2027 return, and the Duane Arnold plant in Iowa is expected to follow in 2029.

Uprates at existing plants add another layer of capacity. A federal initiative aims to deliver 5 gigawatts of additional output through uprates and restarts combined, increasing generation from the current fleet without building entirely new sites. Uprates allow operators to raise a reactor's licensed power level after equipment upgrades and safety reviews.

Longer-term additions depend on new construction and advanced reactors. Technology companies have committed to more than 10 gigawatts of future nuclear capacity to power data centers, a pledge that supports both large conventional reactors and smaller advanced designs. Taken together, the restarts, uprates, and new builds point to a US nuclear fleet that is set to grow in capacity over the next several years after a long period of contraction.

Source: World Nuclear Association - https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/usa-nuclear-power