Nuclear power provides about 20% of the U.S. electricity and about 8% of the total U.S. energy consumed from all sources.
In 2007, U.S. nuclear plants generated 806 billion kilowatthours from 104 commercial nuclear generating units. This generation represents an increase of 2.4% over the previous year, although generating capacity experienced only a marginal increase in 2007. Nuclear Power Constitutes a Sizeable Portion of U.S. Power
The top five States for nuclear generation of electricity in 2007 were:
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- New York
- Texas
The Beginning of the U.S. Commercial Nuclear Industry
The process of generating electricity has involved the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) since before the turn of the twentieth century. An experimental reactor used uranium to generate electricity in December 1951, but more than half a decade passed before uranium contributed significantly to commercial electricity generation.
In 1957, the first large-scale U.S. commercial nuclear power plant opened at Shippingport, Pennsylvania. The use of nuclear-generated electricity has grown substantially since then. Nuclear power as a percentage of total U.S. electricity generation increased quickly from nearly 5% in 1973 to 9% in 1975 and then to the current level of about 20% by 1988.
The United States Has the Most Nuclear Capacity
In 2007, the United States had more nuclear capacity than any other nation, 100.3 gigawatts, followed in rank order by France, Japan, and Germany. Although each of these countries generate less electricity than the United States, they are more dependent on nuclear power.
International Outlook for Nuclear Power Varies
International growth in commercial nuclear power has slowed, but several countries have ambitious nuclear construction programs. The United States, China, India, Russia, South Korea, and other countries have brought new reactors into service during the latter part of the twentieth century. However, the United States has not ordered any new reactors since 1978.
Did You Know?
The last new reactor to come on-line in the United States was the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar 1 reactor in Tennessee, in February 1996. Nuclear expansion since 1996 has occurred through "uprating," the practice of increasing capacity at existing power plants. Source: Energy Information Administration
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