How old are U.S. nuclear power plants, and when was the newest one built?
The average age of U.S. commercial nuclear power reactors that were operational as of December 31, 2021, was about 40 years. The oldest operating reactor is Nine Mile Point 1 in New York, which entered commercial service in December 1969. The newest reactor to enter service is Tennessee’s Watts Bar Unit 2, which began operation in June 2016. The next-youngest operating reactor is Watts Bar Unit 1, also in Tennessee, which entered service in May 1996.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses U.S. commercial nuclear reactors for 40 years. Before termination of the original license, companies may apply to the NRC for 20-year license extensions.
Learn more:
Does EIA have data on each power plant in the United States?
Nuclear power plant data
Status of NRC reactor license renewal applications
Last updated: March 7, 2022
Other FAQs about Nuclear
- How old are U.S. nuclear power plants, and when was the newest one built?
- How much does it cost to generate electricity with different types of power plants?
- How much of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are associated with electricity generation?
- How many power plants are there in the United States?
- How many nuclear power plants are in the United States, and where are they located?
- Does EIA have forecasts or projections for energy production, consumption, and prices for individual states?
- What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?
- How much electricity does a nuclear power plant generate?
- Does EIA have information on unplanned outages or shutdowns of U.S. energy infrastructure?