How many nuclear power plants are in the United States, and where are they located?

As of March 2026, the United States had 57 commercially operated nuclear power plants with 96 nuclear power reactors in 28 states. Illinois has 11 reactors, the most of any state, with a total nameplate electricity generating capacity of 11,592 megawatts (MW), which is 12% of total U.S. operating nuclear electricity generation capacity.

Of the 57 operating nuclear power plants:

• 22 have one reactor
• 31 have two reactors
• 3 have three reactors
• 1 has four reactors 

The Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia is the largest U.S. nuclear power plant. It has:

• Four reactors
• Total nameplate electricity generating capacity of about 4,658 MW
• Total net summer electricity generating capacity of 4,530 MW

The R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in New York is the smallest nuclear facility. It has:

• One reactor
• Nameplate generation capacity of 614 MW
• Net summer generation capacity of about 582 MW

The smallest individual reactors are the two units at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Minnesota, which each have about 593 MW nameplate generation capacity and about 520 MW of net summer generation capacity.

The newest nuclear reactor to enter service is the Vogtle Unit 4 at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia, which began commercial operation in April 2024 and has 1,114 MW nameplate electricity generating capacity.

Learn more:
Plant Vogtle Unit 4 begins commercial operation
Does EIA publish the location of electric power plants, transmission lines, and substations?
Articles on nuclear energy
U.S. Nuclear Generation and Generating Capacity
Data on operable, proposed, and retired generators at U.S. power plants (file: GeneratorYyy)
List of new, retired, and planned generators (See Tables 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6 for most recent published survey data)
Nuclear Energy Explained

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