Here’s the punchline: these 94 reactors supply about 20% of all U.S. electricity. That’s like one-fifth of the power that keeps your Netflix running, your fridge cold, and your TikTok scrolling. But here’s the weird part: they produce zero carbon emissions while operating. That means a nuclear plant is basically a giant, silent climate hero in a concrete turtleneck.
On the flip side, each reactor creates about 20 metric tons of used nuclear fuel per year. That’s the equivalent of a family of elephants (RIP, elephants) made of radioactive waste. And where does it go? Right now, it’s stored on-site in dry casks—basically giant steel Monopoly hotels—waiting for a permanent underground bunker that Congress keeps promising but never delivers. Classic.
How many nuclear power plants are there in the United States?
The Future: More? Less? A Mutant Cow?
So, will the number 94 go up or down? Well, it’s complicated. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has licenses for many reactors through the 2040s and 2050s. But several are at risk of closing due to high operating costs, especially in deregulated electricity markets. Meanwhile, a wildcard is “small modular reactors”—tiny, prefab plants that look like water heaters on steroids. They’re still in development, but pro-nuclear fans hope they’ll replace those 94 old-timers someday.
Oh, and one more thing: the oldest active reactor is Nine Mile Point Unit 1 in New York, which started life in 1969. To put that in perspective, it began operating the same year the Beatles gave their last public performance. That plant has outlasted the Beatles, disco music, and three major fashion trends. Respect.
