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Mapped: Nuclear Reactors in the U.S.

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Mapped: Nuclear Reactors in the U.S.

This was originally posted on June 8, 2022, on Elements.

The United States is the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, representing more than 30% of the world’s nuclear power generation.

America has 92 reactors in operation, providing about 20% of the country’s electricity.

The above infographic uses data from the International Atomic Energy Agency to showcase every single nuclear reactor in America.

Nuclear Development

Nuclear power in the U.S. dates back to the 1950s.

George Westinghouse produced the first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. The technology is used in approximately half of the 450 nuclear power reactors worldwide.

Today, over 30 different power companies across 30 states operate nuclear facilities in the U.S., and most nuclear power reactors are located east of the Mississippi River.

Illinois has more reactors than any state, with 11 reactors and the largest total nuclear electricity generation capacity at about 11,582 megawatts (MW). Meanwhile, the largest reactor is at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Mississippi, with a capacity of about 1,500 MW.

Most American reactors in operation were built between 1967 and 1990. Until 2013 there had been no new constructions started since 1977, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Nuclear power reactors in America receive 40-year operating licenses from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with companies able to apply for 20-year extensions. The oldest operating reactor, Nine Mile Point Unit 1 in New York, began commercial operation in December 1969. The newest reactor to enter service, Watts Bar Unit 2, came online in 2016.

The Future of Nuclear Power in the U.S.

U.S. nuclear power’s capacity peaked in 2012 at about 102,000 MW, with 104 operating nuclear reactors operating.

US nuclear generation and capacity

Since nuclear plants generate nearly 20% of U.S. electricity and about half of the country’s carbon‐free electricity, the recent push from the Biden administration to reduce fossil fuels and increase clean energy will require significant new nuclear capacity.

Today, there are two new reactors under construction (Vogtle 3 and 4) in Georgia, expected to come online before 2023.

Furthermore, some of the Inflation Reduction Act provisions include incentives for the nuclear industry. Starting in 2024, for example, utilities will be able to get a credit of $15 per megawatt-hour for electricity produced by existing nuclear plants. Nuclear infrastructure projects could also be eligible for up to $250 billion worth of loans to update, repurpose, and revitalize energy infrastructure that has stopped working.

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Clean Energy

The 2022 Energy Crisis: A Tipping Point for Clean Energy

See how the energy crisis of 2022 accelerated the growth of clean energy.

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infographic on the 2022 energy crisis and its impact on clean energy

The 2022 Energy Crisis: A Tipping Point for Clean Energy

The global energy crisis of 2022 sent shockwaves in the energy markets.

The crisis acted as a double-edged sword—on one hand, consumers felt the pinch of rising energy prices, but on the other hand, it became a turning point for clean energy, spurring action from governments to cut dependence on fossil fuels.

This infographic from the National Public Utilities Council explores how the energy crisis accelerated the growth of clean energy and nuclear power.

Shockwaves From the Energy Crisis

Although the consequences of the crisis were felt in 2022, its roots go back to 2020 when energy demand dipped during the pandemic.

Following the unprecedented fall in demand, energy markets tightened in 2021 as the global economy rebounded to grow at the fastest pace since 1973. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine escalated the situation, creating a full-scale energy crisis.

As a result, energy prices soared to their highest levels in decades, resulting in rampant inflation worldwide. This highlighted how many nations remained dependent on fossil fuels for energy, in turn creating a tipping point for clean energy.

Clean Energy Turns the Corner

Countries including the United States, the UK, and many EU member states have supercharged clean energy investment over the last two years, partly in response to the energy crisis.

Here’s how global government spending for clean energy has grown since July 2021, as tracked by the IEA:

  • $380 billion as of July 2021
  • $470 billion as of October 2021
  • $714 billion as of March 2022
  • $1,215 billion as of November 2022

European countries deployed funding for energy efficiency and low-carbon power generation (through REPowerEU) in response to natural gas supply disruptions from Russia. In August of 2022, the U.S. signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, providing over $390 billion in clean energy and climate funding.

Consequently, clean energy technologies are growing at an unprecedented rate. The IEA forecasts that global renewable electricity capacity additions from 2022 to 2027 (2,383 GW) will nearly equal all the renewable capacity added between 2001 and 2021 (2,409 GW).

Nuclear Turnaround

Besides renewables, nuclear power has seen a resurgence as governments look for a reliable energy source to replace fossil generation.

Here’s a look at the top 10 countries by the number of prospective nuclear reactors based on the Global Nuclear Power Tracker. This includes announced, pre-construction, and under-construction reactors.

CountryNumber of Prospective Reactors% of Global Total
China 🇨🇳10341%
India 🇮🇳3213%
Russia 🇷🇺3012%
Turkey 🇹🇷125%
U.S. 🇺🇸125%
Romania 🇷🇴83%
Poland 🇵🇱62%
UK 🇬🇧62%
South Korea 🇰🇷52%
Bulgaria 🇧🇬42%

Besides the countries building and planning reactors, others have reversed their plans to phase out nuclear power:

  • Germany extended the lifetime of three plants that were set to shut down in 2022.
  • France reversed course to reduce reliance on nuclear, with a plan to build six new reactors.
  • Japan accelerated the restarts of nine reactors by winter 2022 and a further seven by summer 2023.

The impact of this accelerated clean energy deployment is already evident.

In 2022, the growth of clean energy technologies helped avoid 550 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, according to the IEA. On the other hand, a decline in nuclear power generation led to an additional 55 million tonnes in CO2 emissions, highlighting the importance of nuclear in reducing emissions.

Click here to learn more about how electric utilities and the power sector can lead on the path toward decarbonization.

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Breaking Down Clean Energy Funding in the Inflation Reduction Act

This graphic breaks down the $392.5 billion in clean energy funding in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

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inflation reduction act

Breaking Down Clean Energy Funding in the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law on August 16, 2022, is the largest climate legislation in U.S. history.

Along with fighting inflation and boosting domestic manufacturing, the IRA ultimately aims to help the U.S. achieve its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

This infographic sponsored by the National Public Utilities Council breaks down the $392.5 billion in clean energy and climate spending in the Inflation Reduction Act, based on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

Note: The figures in the graphic and article refer to the IRA’s estimated spending for each program. Spending estimates tend to be lower than the total amount of funds allocated by the act.

Deconstructing the Inflation Reduction Act

The IRA’s clean energy and climate spending can be broken down into seven broader categories:

CategoryEstimated Spending (2022–2031, millions)
Clean Electricity Tax Credits$160,940
Air Pollution, Hazardous Materials, Transportation and Infrastructure$41,870
Individual Clean Energy Incentives$36,878
Clean Manufacturing Tax Credits$36,877
Clean Fuel and Vehicle Tax Credits$35,995
Conservation, Rural Development, Forestry$34,681
Building Efficiency, Electrification, Transmission, Industrial, DOE Grants and Loans$27,270
Other Energy and Climate Spending$18,000
Total$392,511

Clean Electricity Tax Credits, which include the Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC), account for the largest share of climate spending at 41% of the $392.5 billion.

Furthermore, the IRA mobilizes around $42 billion for programs aimed at air pollution, hazardous materials, and infrastructure. The Individual Clean Energy Incentives and Clean Manufacturing Tax Credits programs each receive $37 billion to incentivize residential clean energy use and domestic manufacturing of clean technology components.

Below, we’ll unpack the IRA’s clean energy spending in further detail.

Clean Electricity Tax Credits

Of the $161 billion of funding for Clean Electricity Tax Credits, $132 billion is for just three programs.

ProgramEstimated Spending (2022-2031, millions)
Credit for Electricity Produced From Renewable Resources*$51,062
Clean Electricity Investment Credit$50,858
Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit$30,001
Energy Investment Credit*$13,962
Clean Electricity Production Credit$11,204
Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration*$3,229
Other$624
Total$160,940

*Indicates extensions or modifications of existing credits.

The Credit for Electricity Produced from Renewable Sources is a PTC that provides from $5 to $25 per megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from renewable facilities. Wind, solar, geothermal, marine, biomass, hydro, and landfill gas facilities are eligible for this credit.

The Clean Electricity Investment Credit is an ITC with a base credit of 6% (rising to 30% if other requirements are met) on the total cost of installed equipment for a zero-emissions power generation facility. Besides renewables, nuclear, fuel cells, and battery storage systems qualify for this credit.

Nuclear is set to get a $30 billion boost through the Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit, which offers from $3 up to $15 per MWh of electricity generated from nuclear reactors. This is applicable for all reactors in service in 2024 and continues through 2032.

Clean electricity projects can either claim the PTC or the ITC (not both). Projects with high capital costs are likely to benefit from the ITC. On the other hand, projects with high capacity factors could benefit from credits per unit of electricity from the PTC.

Air Pollution, Hazardous Materials, Transportation and Infrastructure

Nearly half the spending for programs in this category–around $20 billion—is for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund.

ProgramEstimated Spending (2022-2031, millions)
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund$19,980
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants$4,050
Hazardous Materials$3,000
Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports$3,000
Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program$2,900
Use of Low-Carbon Materials$2,150
Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants$1,700
Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles$1,000
Other$4,090
Total$41,870

The GHG Reduction Fund, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to provide grants for clean energy and climate projects that reduce GHG emissions, with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Similarly, other policies in this category provide the EPA with funding for grants to reduce various kinds of air pollution and curb hazardous material usage.

Individual Clean Energy Incentives

The IRA provides various tax credits to incentivize clean energy use and energy efficiency in American households.

ProgramEstimated Spending (2022-2031, millions)
Residential Clean Energy Credit$22,022
Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit*$12,451
New Energy Efficient Home Credit*$2,043
Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction$362
Total$36,878

*Indicates extensions or modifications of existing credits.

The Residential Clean Energy Credit, accounting for $22 billion in spending, provides a 30% credit on the cost of residential clean energy equipment. This includes rooftop solar panels, geothermal heating systems, small wind turbines, and battery storage systems.

The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit, now known as the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, offers up to $3,200 annually for energy efficient home upgrades, including insulation, heat pumps, efficient doors, and more.

Clean Manufacturing Tax Credits

Besides energy generation, the IRA incentivizes domestic manufacturing of clean technologies with the following credits:

ProgramEstimated Spending (2022-2031, millions)
Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit$30,622
Extension of the Advanced Energy Project Credit$6,255
Total$36,877

The Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit is a tax credit for the domestic production of solar and wind energy components, inverters, battery components, and critical minerals. The credit for critical minerals is permanent, unlike credits for other items, which will phase out in 2032.

Other Climate Funding in the IRA

In addition to the policies above, the IRA sanctions another $116 billion for clean energy and climate programs.

This includes incentives for clean hydrogen production, electric vehicle purchases, and alternative fuels. Furthermore, the Department of Energy receives around $9.8 billion for clean energy innovation and infrastructure loan and grant programs.

The act also invests in environmental conservation and rural development. It includes an estimated $9.6 billion in assistance for rural electric cooperatives, along with other incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

With billions in climate funding, the Inflation Reduction Act is set to provide a significant boost to America’s clean energy plans. According to an assessment by the Department of Energy, the IRA could help reduce economy-wide GHG emissions to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, marking a major milestone on the road to net-zero.

Click here to learn more about how electric utilities and the power sector can lead on the path toward decarbonization.

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