The US nuclear fleet continues to operate at exceptional reliability, running at an industry-wide capacity factor of about 92 percent, according to Nuclear Energy Institute statistics. That figure means the nation's reactors produce power more than 92 percent of the time, the highest capacity factor of any electricity source.

The fleet's contribution to the grid is substantial. The country's 94 licensed reactors generate almost 20 percent of national electricity, and US nuclear generation capacity exceeded 99 gigawatts. This output comes from a fleet that has been steadily upgraded and relicensed rather than expanded through large numbers of new plants.

The economic footprint is significant. NEI data shows the commercial nuclear industry adds 63.8 billion dollars to US gross domestic product and pays 9.06 billion dollars in state and local taxes annually. Nuclear plants are the highest-paying energy generation source, supporting roughly 73,000 long-term jobs across the country.

The fleet is also aging in place by design. About 95 percent of the current reactors intend to operate for 80 years or more, supported by license extensions and capital investment. The industry is now adding capacity through reactor restarts and advanced designs, including the NRC-approved restart of Holtec's Palisades plant. The data describes a mature generation source delivering steady, high-availability output while the broader sector pursues expansion through small modular reactors and life extensions of existing units.

Source: Nuclear Energy Institute - https://www.nei.org/resources/statistics/us-nuclear-generating-statistics