The United States is by far the world’s largest producer of nuclear energy. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, active nuclear power plants in the US have the capacity to generate 95.5 gigawatts of electricity annually. In France, the world’s second largest producer of nuclear energy, production capacity totals just 61.4 gigawatts.
All told, nuclear power plants account for about 19% of total electricity production nationwide. While nuclear power is a critical component of the American power grid, some states rely more on nuclear energy than others. Over a quarter of the 93 active nuclear reactors in the United States are concentrated in just three states. Meanwhile, nearly half of all states have no active nuclear power plants. (This is how much renewable energy your state produces.)
Using data from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 24/7 Wall St identified the states that are home to the most nuclear reactors. States with the same number of nuclear reactors are listed alphabetically.
Among the 28 states on this list, six have just one active nuclear reactor, and seven have only two. Meanwhile, three states have more than five. Generally, states without any nuclear power plants produce electricity through native natural resources. Much of the power consumed in West Virginia, for example, is generated through coal-burning plants, while some Great Plains states, like Iowa, rely heavily on wind farms. (These are the US wind farms generating the most electricity.)
Click here to see the states with the most nuclear power plants
Though nuclear energy is by far the most reliable and efficient power source available and produces no carbon pollution, it is not without drawbacks. Nuclear power plants generate nuclear waste, which cannot be destroyed and requires long-term storage. Additionally, as accidents at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine in 1986 and the Fukushima plant in Japan in 2011 – not to mention our own Three Mile Island partial core meltdown in 1979 – have demonstrated, malfunctions can be catastrophic. Nuclear power plants also have high-startup costs, which can reduce their economic competitiveness.
28. Kansas
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Burlington
> Power plant operator(s): Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
27. Missouri
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Fulton
> Power plant operator(s): Union Electric Co.
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
26. Mississippi
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Port Gibson
> Power plant operator(s): Entergy Operations, Inc.
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
25. Nebraska
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Brownville
> Power plant operator(s): Nebraska Public Power District
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
24. New Hampshire
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Seabrook
> Power plant operator(s): NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC
Source: smodj / iStock via Getty Images
23. Washington
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 1
> Location: Richland
> Power plant operator(s): Energy Northwest
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Source: hollandphotos / iStock via Getty Images
22. Arkansas
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Location: London
> Power plant operator(s): Entergy Operations, Inc.
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
21. California
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Location: Avila Beach
> Power plant operator(s): Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Source: Michael King / iStock via Getty Images
20. Connecticut
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Location: Waterford
> Power plant operator(s): Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
19. Louisiana
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Locations: Killona & St. Francisville
> Power plant operator(s): Entergy Operations, Inc.
18. Maryland
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Location: Lusby
> Power plant operator(s): Exelon Generation Company, LLC
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17. Ohio
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Locations: Oak Harbor & Perry
> Power plant operator(s): Energy Harbor Nuclear Corp
Source: departmentofenergy / Flickr
16. Wisconsin
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 2
> Location: Two Rivers
> Power plant operator(s): NextEra Energy Point Beach, LLC
Source: Jeff Topping / Getty Images News via Getty Images
15. Arizona
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 3
> Location: Wintersburg
> Power plant operator(s): Arizona Public Service Co.
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Source: NicholasBPhotography / iStock via Getty Images
14. Minnesota
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 3
> Locations: Monticello & Welch
> Power plant operator(s): Northern States Power Co. â Minnesota
13. New Jersey
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 3
> Location: Hancocks Bridge
> Power plant operator(s): PSEG Nuclear, LLC
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Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
12. Florida
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Homestead & Jensen Beach
> Power plant operator(s): Florida Power & Light Co.
11. Georgia
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Baxley & Waynesboro
> Power plant operator(s): Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.
Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
10. Michigan
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Bridgman, Covert, & Newport
> Power plant operator(s): DTE Electric Company, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., & Indiana Michigan Power Co.
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9. New York
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Ontario & Scriba
> Power plant operator(s): Exelon Generation Company, LLC, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC, & R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, LLC
Source: Alfred T. Palmer / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
8. Tennessee
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Soddy-Daisy & Spring City
> Power plant operator(s): Tennessee Valley Authority
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7. Texas
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Bay City & Glen Rose
> Power plant operator(s): STP Nuclear Operating Co. & TEX Operations Company LLC
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
6. Virginia
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 4
> Locations: Louisa & Surry
> Power plant operator(s): Virginia Electric & Power Co.
Source: toddmedia / iStock via Getty Images
5. Alabama
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 5
> Locations: Athens & Columbia
> Power plant operator(s): Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, LLC & Southern Nuclear Operating Co., Inc.
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Source: Lineas 1703 / iStock via Getty Images
4. North Carolina
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 5
> Locations: Huntersville, New Hill, & Southport
> Power plant operator(s): Duke Energy Progress, LLC
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
3. South Carolina
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 7
> Locations: Hartsville, Jenkensville, Seneca, & York
> Power plant operator(s): Dominion Energy South Carolina & Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
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Source: Jeff Fusco / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Pennsylvania
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 8
> Locations: Delta, Limerick, Salem Township, & Shippingport
> Power plant operator(s): Exelon Generation Co., LLC & Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC
Source: Jorge Villalba / E+ via Getty Images
1. Illinois
> Active nuclear reactors in state: 11
> Locations: Braceville, Byron, Clinton, Cordova, Marseilles, & Morris
> Power plant operator(s): Exelon Generation Co., LLC
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