Map of U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Active, Decommissioned, Future

Active, Decommissioned, Future Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear power plants generate 19% of the electricity in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Sixty-one percent comes from fossil fuels and 20% comes from renewables.).

There are 93 commercial nuclear reactors operating in the United States at 55 locations in 28 states. The majority of nuclear reactors are in the eastern portion of the U.S.

25 reactors are in some phase of decommissioning. This map lists only reactors that are officially being decommissioned according to the NRC. Some plants that local utilities have slated for decommissioning, including Diablo Canyon in California, are listed as active because the NRC has not yet officially designated them as undergoing the decommissioning process.

Here is a list of some nuclear power plants in the United States that have been decommissioned:

  1. Three Mile Island Unit 2 (Middletown, Pennsylvania): The Three Mile Island Unit 2 reactor suffered a partial meltdown in 1979 and was permanently shut down in 1979. Decommissioning efforts began in 1980 and were completed in 1993.
  2. Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant (Shoreham, New York): The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant on Long Island was completed but never operated commercially. Due to concerns about evacuation plans and public opposition, it never received a license to operate. Decommissioning began in 1989, and the plant was fully decommissioned by 1994.
  3. Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant (Haddam Neck, Connecticut): The Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant operated from 1968 to 1996. Decommissioning activities started in 1997 and were completed in 2007.
  4. Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant (Charlevoix, Michigan): The Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant operated from 1962 to 1997. Decommissioning commenced in 1997 and concluded in 2006.
  5. Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station (Herald, California): The Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station operated from 1975 to 1989. Following a public vote, the plant was permanently shut down in 1989. Decommissioning activities took place from 1990 to 2009.
  6. Trojan Nuclear Power Plant (Rainier, Oregon): The Trojan Nuclear Power Plant operated from 1976 to 1992. Decommissioning began in 1993 and was completed in 2005.

These are just a few examples of decommissioned nuclear power plants in the United States. The decommissioning process typically involves several stages, including decontamination, dismantling of structures, and managing radioactive waste. Each decommissioning project is subject to regulatory requirements and oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure safe and proper execution.