Every US nuclear reactor restart, new build, advanced reactor, and SMR project, tracked in one place.
Last updated: March 2026
94
Operating Reactors
~97 GW capacity
4
Planned Restarts
TMI · Palisades · Duane Arnold · VC Summer
2
Under Construction
Hermes · Natrium (non-nuclear)
8+
Advanced Reactors
SMRs & demos in pipeline
97
GW Capacity
~18.2% of US electricity
Restart Tracker
For the first time in US history, shuttered nuclear reactors are being brought back online. Driven by surging data center demand and tech company PPAs, three plants are actively pursuing restarts, and a fourth abandoned project may resume construction.
Palisades Nuclear Plant
Covert, Michigan · Owner: Holtec International
DOE Funded
Capacity
800 MW
Original Shutdown
May 2022
Restart Target
Feb–Mar 2026
DOE Loan
$1.52 billion
Milestones
DOE Loan
NRC Approval
Refurbishment
▶ Fuel Load
Grid Sync
Commercial Op
Power buyer: Grid sales to Michigan utilities · First-ever US reactor un-retirement · Holtec also plans twin SMR-300s at the site for early 2030s
Crane Clean Energy Center (TMI Unit 1)
Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania · Owner: Constellation Energy
DOE Funded
Capacity
835 MW
Original Shutdown
September 2019
Restart Target
2027 (moved up from 2028)
DOE Loan
$1.0 billion
Milestones
Microsoft PPA
DOE Loan
▶ NRC Review
Refurbishment
Fuel Load
Grid Sync
Power buyer: Microsoft: 20-year PPA for data center power · Plant renamed "Crane Clean Energy Center" · PJM fast-tracked interconnection review · Constellation targeting 2027 restart (moved up from 2028)
Duane Arnold Energy Center
Palo, Iowa · Owner: NextEra Energy
NRC Review
Capacity
615 MW
Original Shutdown
August 2020
Restart Target
Q4 2028 – 2029
FERC Waiver
Approved Aug 2025
Milestones
Google PPA
FERC Waiver
▶ NRC Review
Refurbishment
Fuel Load
Grid Sync
Power buyer: Google: PPA enables investment to restart · FERC approved waiver needed for interconnection · Planned closure in 2020 accelerated by August derecho that damaged cooling towers
V.C. Summer Units 2 & 3
Fairfield County, South Carolina · Owner: Santee Cooper
Vendor Selected
Capacity
2,200 MW (2 units)
Construction Abandoned
July 2017
Vendor Selected
October 2025
Estimated Timeline
TBD (~2030s)
Milestones
RFP Issued
14 Proposals
Vendor Selected
▶ Final Agreements
Construction
Operations
Note: Completion of abandoned AP1000 project (originally $9B+ cost overruns) · Brookfield selected Oct 2025 to lead revival · No ratepayer funding required · 14 proposals received from RFI
Advanced Reactors & SMR Tracker
A new generation of reactor designs is moving from paper to reality. These range from sodium-cooled fast reactors to molten salt and high-temperature gas designs, each promising safer, cheaper, and more flexible nuclear power.
Hermes Demo Reactor
Kairos Power
Construction
Technology
Fluoride salt-cooled HTGR
Location
Oak Ridge, TN
Capacity
35 MWth (demo)
Target Online
2027
First non-light-water reactor permitted for construction in 50+ years · DOE ARDP support · Google PPA for future fleet (500 MW by 2035) · HALEU fuel contract finalized Jan 2026
Natrium (Kemmerer Unit 1)
TerraPower / GE-Hitachi
Non-Nuclear Construction
Technology
Sodium fast reactor + molten salt storage
Location
Kemmerer, WY
Capacity
345 MWe (peak 500 MW)
Construction Permit
Expected early 2026
NRC completed final safety evaluation Dec 2025 · DOE ARDP funded · Non-nuclear construction underway at retired coal site · Bill Gates-backed · Wyoming state approval granted
Xe-100
X-energy / Dow Chemical
NRC Review
Technology
Pebble-bed HTGR
Location
Seadrift, TX (Dow site)
Capacity
4 × 80 MWe (320 MW)
Timeline
Late 2020s–2030
$700M Series D funding (Nov 2025) · DOE ARDP support · TRISO-X fuel facility under construction, regulatory approval expected May 2026 · Provides clean power + industrial steam to Dow
NuScale VOYGR
NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR)
Seeking Customers
Technology
Light-water SMR
Location
TBD (multiple prospects)
Capacity
462 MWe (6-module plant)
NRC Design Approval
May 2025 (2nd approval)
UAMPS project cancelled Nov 2023 (costs rose from $5.3B to $9.3B) · Only NRC-certified SMR design in the US · Seeking 2-3 customers · 77 MWe uprated design approved May 2025
SMR-300
Holtec International
License Submitted
Technology
Pressurized light-water SMR
Location
Palisades site, MI
Capacity
2 × 300 MWe (600 MW)
Target
Early 2030s
NRC license application submitted Jan 2026 · Will be built at Palisades after restart · DOE grant support · Civil construction to begin after Palisades grid connection
Aurora Powerhouse
Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO)
Groundbreaking
Technology
Sodium-cooled fast reactor
Location
Idaho National Lab, ID
Capacity
15–75 MWe (flexible)
Target
2026–2027
Broke ground Sep 2025 at INL · DOE fast-tracking · Fuel fabrication facility approved · Original NRC application denied 2022 (resubmitted) · Sam Altman-backed · Meta signed 1.2 GW Aurora powerhouse deal at former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, OH (Jan 2026) — first major corporate offtake for Oklo's commercial Aurora units
BWRX-300 (Clinch River)
TVA / GE-Hitachi
NRC Review
Technology
Boiling water SMR
Location
Clinch River, TN
Capacity
300 MWe
Target
Early 2030s
TVA received $400M DOE grant · First utility-backed SMR in the US · Could lead to multi-unit deployment across TVA territory
Kewaunee New Nuclear
Holtec / Cooperatives
Pre-Application
Technology
SMR (type TBD)
Location
Kewaunee County, WI
Capacity
TBD
Target
2030s
NRC major licensing action filed Jan 2026 · Closed reactor site with existing grid access · Holtec + two electric cooperatives exploring · DOE & USDA support sought
US Nuclear Fleet: By State
The United States operates 94 commercial nuclear reactors at 54 plants across 28 states, with a combined capacity of approximately 97 GW. This fleet produces about 18-19% of total US electricity and is the nation's largest source of clean energy.
Plant
State
Reactors
Capacity (MW)
Owner
License Expires
Notes
The Case for Nuclear
Nuclear power isn't just making a comeback, the data shows it never stopped being essential. Here's why nuclear remains the backbone of clean, reliable electricity in America.
93.1%
Capacity Factor
Highest of any energy source. Nuclear runs 24/7, producing power 93% of the time vs. 25% for solar, 35% for wind.
#1
Clean Electricity Source
Nuclear generates more carbon-free electricity than wind and solar combined, about 778 TWh in 2024.
~700
Jobs Per Plant
Each nuclear plant employs 500-800 permanent workers with average salaries 30% above local median. Total industry: ~100,000 jobs.
1 mi²
Land Per 1,000 MW
Nuclear uses ~1 sq mi per 1,000 MW. Wind needs ~360x more land, solar ~75x more for equivalent output.
60+
Year Lifespan
Most US reactors now licensed to 60 years. Many pursuing 80-year extensions, decades longer than wind or solar farms.
0
Carbon Emissions
Zero direct CO₂ while running. Lifecycle emissions comparable to wind (~12 gCO₂/kWh) and far below natural gas (~490).
Metric
Nuclear
Natural Gas
Wind
Solar
Coal
Capacity Factor
93.1%
57%
35%
25%
40%
CO₂ (g/kWh lifecycle)
12
490
11
41
820
Land Use (acres/GWh)
0.1
0.3
17
8
0.4
Lifespan (years)
60–80
30–40
20–25
25–30
40–50
Dispatchable?
Yes (baseload)
Yes
No
No
Yes
Nuclear Policy & Regulation
Bipartisan support for nuclear energy has reached historic levels, with landmark legislation, reformed licensing, and billions in federal support rewriting the rules.
ADVANCE Act (Signed July 2024)
The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act, the most significant nuclear legislation in decades. Streamlines NRC licensing, reduces fees for advanced reactors, authorizes new regulatory pathways, and directs NRC to develop technology-inclusive frameworks.
Signed Into Law
NRC Licensing Reform
The NRC is implementing ADVANCE Act mandates to modernize reactor licensing. New technology-inclusive frameworks aim to cut review times. Pre-application engagement expanded for advanced designs including Kairos, TerraPower, X-energy, Oklo, and NuScale.
Implementation Ongoing
DOE Loan Programs
The DOE Loan Programs Office has become nuclear's biggest backer: $1.52B for Palisades restart, $1.0B for Three Mile Island, plus billions in ARDP funding for advanced reactor demonstrations (TerraPower, X-energy, Kairos). Title 17 Clean Energy Financing expanded for nuclear.
Active & Expanding
State Policy Shifts
Multiple states have lifted nuclear construction moratoria: Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota. California extended Diablo Canyon operations through 2030 (seeking NRC renewal to 2045). Michigan backed Palisades restart. New York, New Jersey subsidizing existing fleet with ZECs.
Momentum Building
Triple Nuclear Capacity Pledge
At COP28 (Dec 2023), the US and 21 other nations pledged to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. Domestically, this implies growing from ~97 GW to ~290+ GW. requiring massive new build programs, restarts, uprates, and license extensions.
International Commitment
HALEU Fuel Supply
High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) is critical for most advanced reactor designs. DOE is building a domestic HALEU supply chain, awarding contracts to Centrus Energy and others. HALEU production facility at Piketon, OH operational. Congress allocated additional funding.
Supply Chain Building
Key Fleet Actions
Diablo Canyon: License Extension
San Luis Obispo County, California · Owner: PG&E
Extended Operations
Capacity
2,256 MW (2 units)
Original Closure Plan
2024–2025
Current Status
Extended through ~2030
License Application
Renewal to 2045 filed
Story: Once slated for shutdown, California reversed course via SB 846 (Sep 2022). NRC approved continued operations during license review. PG&E seeking 20-year renewal to 2045. Produces 8.6% of California's electricity, the state's largest single source of clean power.
License Extensions to 80 Years
Multiple Plants Nationwide
NRC Review
Approved (to 80 yrs)
8 reactors
Under Review
11+ reactors
Expected to Apply
20+ reactors
Fleet Trend
Nearly 50 seeking 80-yr ops
Approved: Turkey Point 3&4, Peach Bottom 2&3, Surry 1&2, North Anna 1&2, Monticello, V.C. Summer 1 · Under review: Point Beach 1&2, Oconee 1-3, St. Lucie 1&2, Browns Ferry 1-3, Dresden 2&3 · Many more expected to file