US nuclear energy

U.S. Nuclear Generators Import Nearly All The Uranium Concentrate They Use

In 2023, U.S. nuclear generators used 32 million pounds of imported uranium concentrate (U3O8) and only 0.05 million pounds of domestically produced U3O8. Imports accounted for 99% of the U3O8 they used in 2023 to make nuclear fuel. Foreign producers predominantly supply the U.S. front-end nuclear fuel cycle, but federal policies have been implemented … [continued]

Plant Vogtle Unit 4 Begins Commercial Operation, No More New Nuclear Under Construction

Georgia Power announced this week that the 1,114-megawatt (MW) Unit 4 nuclear power reactor at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia, entered into commercial operation after connecting to the power grid in March 2024. The commercial start of Unit 4 completes the 11-year expansion project at Plant Vogtle. No nuclear reactors are under construction … [continued]

Black Pioneers in Energy

This Black History Month, we honor those who have shaped our energy past, present, and future for the better. We are beyond thankful for their groundbreaking contributions and advancements that have been foundational in the work we continue to support at the Department of Energy. Here are some of their … [continued]

Solar & Battery Storage to Make Up 81% of New U.S. Electric-Generating Capacity in 2024

Developers and power plant owners plan to add 62.8 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity in 2024, according to our latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. This addition would be 55% more added capacity than the 40.4 GW added in 2023 (the most since 2003) and points to a continued … [continued]

Renewable Generation Surpassed Nuclear in the U.S. Electric Power Sector in 2021

Electric power sector generation from renewable sources totaled 795 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in the United States during 2021, surpassing nuclear generation, which totaled 778 million MWh. The U.S. electric power sector does not include electricity generators in the industrial, commercial, or residential sectors, such as small-scale solar or wind or … [continued]