Nuclear Energy Information Hub
Powering the AI Revolution with Nuclear Energy. As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for reliable, carbon-free power, nuclear energy emerges as the cornerstone of sustainable AI infrastructure.
93Active US Nuclear Plants
95.5 GWTotal Nuclear Capacity
18.2%of US Power Generation
Explore the Hub
Nuclear Plants Map
Explore an interactive map of all 93 active US nuclear power plants with detailed information on reactor types, generation capacity, and operational status. Filter by state, reactor type (PWR, BWR), and plant status including plants under construction.
Power Generation Dashboard
Analyze current US power generation by energy source including nuclear, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, and hydro. View AI-driven demand projections showing how artificial intelligence and data center growth will reshape the US energy grid over the next five years through 2030.
SMR Technology Overview
Learn about Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and why they represent the future of nuclear power. SMRs offer faster deployment (3-5 years vs. 10-15 years), lower upfront costs ($500M-$1B vs. $8B-$15B), and scalable modular design perfectly suited to power AI data centers.
Nuclear Energy Stock Portfolio
Track real-time performance of leading nuclear energy stocks including LEU (Centrus Energy), OKLO (Oklo Inc.), BWXT (BWX Technologies), CCJ (Cameco), SMR (NuScale Power), and NXE (NexGen Energy). Monitor uranium miners, reactor manufacturers, and SMR developers driving the nuclear renaissance.
US Nuclear Power Plants - Key Facts
The United States operates the world's largest nuclear fleet with 93 operating nuclear reactors at 54 plants across 28 states. These plants generated approximately 778 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2023, accounting for about 18.2% of total US electricity generation — making nuclear the largest source of clean, carbon-free electricity in America.
Operating Nuclear Reactor Types
| Reactor Type | Count | Description |
|---|
| Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) | 67 | Most common type; uses pressurized water as coolant and moderator |
| Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) | 26 | Water boils inside the reactor vessel to produce steam directly |
States with the Most Nuclear Capacity
| State | Plants | Approximate Capacity |
|---|
| Illinois | 6 | 11.4 GW |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 9.4 GW |
| South Carolina | 4 | 6.6 GW |
| New York | 4 | 4.9 GW |
| Alabama | 3 | 5.9 GW |
| North Carolina | 3 | 5.4 GW |
| Georgia | 2 | 4.6 GW |
| Tennessee | 3 | 3.7 GW |
AI Power Demand and Nuclear Energy
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads is creating extraordinary new electricity demand. Major technology companies including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta are signing long-term power purchase agreements with nuclear facilities to secure reliable, 24/7 carbon-free electricity for their data centers.
Data centers for AI training and inference require constant, uninterruptible power that variable renewable sources like wind and solar cannot always provide. Nuclear power plants operate at capacity factors above 90%, making them ideal partners for always-on AI infrastructure.
Industry analysts project that AI-related power demand in the US could reach 35-50 GW by 2030, representing a major increase from current data center electricity consumption. This demand is accelerating interest in both existing nuclear plant license extensions and new nuclear construction, particularly Small Modular Reactors.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Small Modular Reactors represent the next generation of nuclear power technology. Unlike conventional large reactors, SMRs are designed to be manufactured in factories and assembled on-site, dramatically reducing construction time and costs.
| Feature | SMR | Traditional Reactor |
|---|
| Size | 50-300 MW per module | 1,000+ MW per reactor |
| Construction Time | 3-5 years | 10-15 years |
| Upfront Cost | $500M-$1B per module | $8B-$15B per plant |
| Deployment | Incremental, modular | All-or-nothing |
| Manufacturing | Factory-built, standardized | On-site construction |
Key SMR Developers
Several companies are leading the SMR development race in the United States. NuScale Power (ticker: SMR) received the first NRC design certification for an SMR in US history. Oklo Inc. (ticker: OKLO) is developing advanced fast reactors backed by Sam Altman. X-energy and TerraPower are developing high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. BWX Technologies (ticker: BWXT) manufactures nuclear components for both defense and commercial applications.
Nuclear Energy Stocks
The nuclear energy renaissance has driven significant investor interest in uranium mining companies, reactor manufacturers, and SMR developers. Key publicly-traded nuclear energy companies tracked in this portfolio include:
| Ticker | Company | Sector |
|---|
| LEU | Centrus Energy | Uranium Enrichment |
| OKLO | Oklo Inc. | Advanced Reactor Developer |
| BWXT | BWX Technologies | Nuclear Components Manufacturer |
| CCJ | Cameco Corporation | Uranium Mining |
| SMR | NuScale Power | SMR Developer |
| NXE | NexGen Energy | Uranium Mining |
Uranium prices have surged as utilities rush to secure long-term supply contracts. Cameco (CCJ) and NexGen Energy (NXE) are among the largest uranium miners positioned to benefit from increased nuclear power generation. BWX Technologies manufactures precision nuclear components for commercial utilities as well as the US Navy's nuclear propulsion program.
Nuclear Power Plant Safety and Reliability
Modern nuclear power plants are among the safest and most reliable electricity generating facilities in the world. US nuclear plants have a lifetime capacity factor exceeding 90%, meaning they operate at or near full power more than 90% of the time. This reliability far exceeds wind (35-45%) and solar (20-30%) capacity factors. Nuclear power has the lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of any major energy source, including solar and wind when accounting for manufacturing emissions.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) provides rigorous oversight of nuclear plant design, construction, and operation. All US nuclear plants are licensed for 40 years with options for 20-year license renewals. Many plants are pursuing second renewals extending operation to 80 years.