Let’s put it this way: if the US power grid were a pizza, nuclear would be a solid three or four slices. The rest? Natural gas dominates at about 40%, coal has shrunk to around 20%, and renewables like wind and solar are closing in, but they’re still around 15%. So nuclear is basically the quiet middle child—not forgotten, but not the star of the show either.
What blows my mind is that nuclear plants run at 90% capacity on average. That’s like a marathon runner who never slows down, while solar panels are a sprinter who naps at night. No shade to renewables, of course—I love my solar-powered garden lights—but nuclear is the reliable grumpy uncle who keeps the lights on during a blizzard.
Where Are All These Reactors Hiding?
Right now, the US has 93 commercial nuclear reactors, spread across 55 power plants in 28 states. Illinois is the nuclear queen, with 11 reactors—that’s more than any other state. New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina aren’t far behind. (Ever notice how these states also have the most weirdly shaped license plates? Coincidence? Probably.)
But here’s the kicker: we haven’t built a brand-new reactor from scratch in decades. The last one to come online was Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee, back in 2016. It took 43 years from start to finish. Yes, you read that right—planning began when Nixon was president. That’s not “clean energy”—that’s a generational commitment.
