WNA reports that the U.S. is the largest producer of nuclear power in the world, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity.\nThe country has 100 nuclear reactors that produced 798 billion kWh in 2014, over 19% of total electrical output. There are now 99 units operable (98.7 GWe) and five under construction.\n\nFollowing a 30-year period in which few new reactors were built, it is expected that six new units may come on line by 2020, four of those resulting from 16 licence applications made since mid-2007 to build 24 new nuclear reactors.\n\nHowever, lower gas prices since 2009 have put the economic viability of some existing reactors and proposed projects in doubt. Government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. Government and industry are working closely on expedited approval for construction and new plant designs.\n\nIn 2013, the U.S. electricity generation was 4294 TWh (billion kWh) gross, 1717 TWh (40%) of it from coal-fired plant, 1150 TWh (27%) from gas, 822 TWh (19%) nuclear, 291 TWh (7%) from hydro, 170 TWh (4%) from wind, 12 TWh (3%) from solar and 18 TWh (<1%) from geothermal (IEA data). The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) put 2013 nuclear output at 789 TWh. Import from Canada in 2012 was 46.6 TWh net and from Mexico 0.7 TWh net. Annual electricity demand is projected to increase to 5,000 billion kWh in 2030, though in the short term it is depressed and is not expected to recover to the 2007 level until about 2015. Annual per capita electricity consumption in 2012 was 11,900 kWh. Total capacity is 1068 GWe, less than one- tenth of which is nuclear.\n\nThe USA has 99 nuclear power reactors in 30 states, operated by 30 different power companies. Since 2001 these plants have achieved an average capacity factor of over 90%, generating up to 807 billion kWh per year and accounting for 20% of total electricity generated.
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Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-