The U.S. nuclear power sector is gaining momentum in 2026, supported by reactor restarts, license extensions, and growing demand from large electricity users. The nation's 94 licensed reactors generate close to 20 percent of U.S. electricity, with nuclear expected to hold an 18 percent share of generation in 2026.
For the first time, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the restart of a shut reactor, Holtec's Palisades plant in Michigan, which is scheduled to return to service later this year. The agency also granted a subsequent license renewal for Duke Energy's Robinson plant in South Carolina, clearing the 54 year old reactor to operate through 2050, an additional 20 years beyond its prior expiration.
Federal policy is pushing for sharp expansion. A White House directive formalized through executive orders aims to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity from roughly 100 gigawatts today to 400 gigawatts by 2050. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has also moved to streamline its rules, establishing default sunset provisions for certain federal nuclear regulations.
Demand from technology companies is reshaping procurement. Meta announced it would buy up to 6.6 gigawatts of nuclear power in the eastern grid market from Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo, part of a broader wave of corporate agreements tied to electricity needs from artificial intelligence and data centers. The combination of restarts, extensions, and new corporate contracts marks a notable shift after years of flat nuclear development.
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute - https://www.nei.org/news/state-of-the-nuclear-industry-2026