The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The NRC regulates and oversees the civilian uses of nuclear materials in the United States by licensing facilities that possess, use, or dispose of nuclear materials; establishing standards; and inspecting licensed facilities. This includes nuclear power plants. The NRC is responsible for implementing the EPA established standards at the facilities they oversee.
Most states have signed formal agreements with the NRC, providing the states regulatory responsibility over small quantities of special nuclear material. These states are known as Agreement States. The radioactive materials license can be issued either by the NRC or an Agreement State.
The NRC Agreement State Program
This webpage provides information about the NRC Agreement State program and lists links to additional information.
How the NRC Protects You
This webpage provides information about how the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates and inspects sites where radioactive materials are used.
Nuclear Reactors
This webpage contains links to information about the NRC’s role in the nuclear power industry.
Student’s Corner: Nuclear Energy
This webpage provides information for students about nuclear energy, radiation emergencies, radioactive waste and more.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA uses its authority from the Clean Air Act to set limits on the amount of radioactive material released into the air from nuclear power plants. Under the Atomic Energy Act, the EPA sets environmental standards for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, high-level wastes.
Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations (40 CFR Part 190)
This webpage provides information on the EPA’s environmental radiation protection standards for nuclear power operations, including a summary of the rule, rule history, and a link to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for this rule.
Radiation: Facts, Risks and Realities
In this booklet, you can read about radiation and its health risks. You can learn about natural radiation and radioactive material used in medicine and nuclear power.
Overview of the Clean Air Act and Air Pollution
This webpage provides information about the Clean Air Act and how air is monitored to help protect the public.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA evaluates state and local emergency response plans for areas around nuclear power plants.
Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies
This webpage provides information on nuclear power plants and potential nuclear emergencies.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
The DOE has oversight responsibilities related to the advancement of domestic nuclear energy production and the management ofradioactive waste produced as a byproduct of energy production.
The Office of Nuclear Energy’s primary mission is advance nuclear power as a resource capable of making major contributions in meeting the nation’s energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs.
The EIA, a branch of the DOE, collects, analyzes, and releases information about different energy sources. They have a role in educating the public about energy.
Nuclear Energy Sources
This webpage provides a background information about nuclear power as an energy source used in the United States. Links are provided to learn more about reactor technologies and nuclear facilities.
Nuclear & Uranium
This webpage provides links to information and data about how much electricity nuclear power plants in the United States generate.
Energy Kids
This webpage provides information on how uranium is used to produce electricity in nuclear power plants.
The States
Each nuclear power plant must have an emergency response plan for incidents that occur on-site. State and local authorities have emergency response plans for incidents that could release radiological material outside the plant property. These emergency response plans are designed to work together. State and local authorities practice their emergency plans every two years at every commercial nuclear power plant.
State Radiation Protection Programs
This webpage provides links and contact information for each state's Radiation Control Program office.
FAQs
Across the United States, 94 nuclear reactors power tens of millions of homes and anchor local communities. Navigate national and state statistics for nuclear energy with the tabs along the top, and select your state to see how nuclear energy benefits your community.
How many nuclear power plants are in the U.S. in 2024? ›
How many nuclear power plants are in the United States, and where are they located? As of April 30, 2024, there were 54 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 94 nuclear power reactors in 28 states.
Does the U.S. government own any nuclear power plants? ›
In general, no. Most US nuclear power plants are built by privately owned utilities. Some are built by government owned utilities, like the Tennessee Valley Authority.
What is the biggest problem with a U.S. nuclear power plant? ›
Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste
A major environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years.
Which US state has the most nuclear power plants? ›
Illinois is also the state with the largest number of nuclear power reactors in operation in the U.S.. This state of the Northern Midwest had 11 nuclear reactors in 2023, located in six different nuclear power plants.
Is the U.S. currently building any nuclear power plants? ›
The youngest U.S. nuclear power reactors, at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, were years behind schedule and billions over budget when they entered commercial operation in 2023 and 2024. No new U.S. nuclear plants are currently being built.
How many nuclear power plants are planned to still be built? ›
About 60 reactors are under construction across the world. A further 110 are planned. Most reactors under construction or planned are in Asia.
How many nuclear reactors are set to close in the U.S. by 2025? ›
Across the country, an additional seven reactors are scheduled to be closed by 2025, including two at the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, New York. …
Why is the US not building nuclear power plants? ›
High construction costs and radioactive waste storage issues are also oft-cited hurdles to nuclear energy advancement. Still, many advocates say that nuclear power is key to reducing emissions from electricity generation.
What state has no nuclear power plants? ›
Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming don't generate significant nuclear energy.
Gates has invested $1 billion into a nuclear power plant that broke ground in Kemmerer, Wyo., this week. The new facility, designed by the Gates-founded TerraPower, will be smaller than traditional fission nuclear power plants and, in theory, safer because it will use sodium instead of water to cool the reactor's core.
Why are many nuclear power plants being shut down in the US? ›
Some smaller reactors operating in deregulated markets have become uneconomic to operate and maintain, due to competition from generators using low priced natural gas, and may be retired early. The 556 MWe Kewaunee Power Station is being closed 20 years before licence expiry for these economic reasons.
What country has the most nuclear power plants? ›
The United States has the most operational nuclear reactors on the planet – 96. Together they have a capacity of 97,565 MW, and last year nuclear energy made up about 20% of the country's electricity generation. France is home to 58 nuclear reactors, which produce about 75% of the country's electricity.
When was the last nuclear power plant built in the US? ›
In 2017, Scana Corp. scrapped plans to finish the half-built nuclear-power plant in South Carolina. The other most recent nuclear power reactors in the U.S. were completed in 2016 and 1996 by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
When was the last nuclear power plant built in the United States? ›
Prior to Vogtle Unit 3, the last nuclear reactor to start in the United States was Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee. Construction on Watts Bar 2 began in 1973 but was suspended in 1985. Work resumed in 2007, and the reactor came online in 2016.
Are there any new nuclear power plants being built? ›
The youngest U.S. nuclear power reactors, at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, were years behind schedule and billions over budget when they entered commercial operation in 2023 and 2024. No new U.S. nuclear plants are currently being built.
How many nuclear power plants have melted down? ›
Meltdown Risk
To date, 1.5 percent of all nuclear power plants ever built have melted down to some degree. Meltdowns have been either catastrophic (Chernobyl, Russia in 1986; three reactors at f*ckushima Dai-ichi, Japan in 2011) or damaging (Three-Mile Island, Pennsylvania in 1979; Saint-Laurent France in 1980).
Which country has the most nuclear power plants? ›
The United States has the most operational nuclear reactors on the planet – 96. Together they have a capacity of 97,565 MW, and last year nuclear energy made up about 20% of the country's electricity generation. France is home to 58 nuclear reactors, which produce about 75% of the country's electricity.
