Carbon-free resources accounted for 38.3% (1,600 million MWh) of all electricity produced in the United States in 2023—up slightly from 37.6% in 2022. Nuclear is by far the largest source of carbon-free power in the United States. In 2023, nuclear power plants accounted for 48.4% (775 million MWh) of all carbon-free electricity production in the country. The production of carbon-free power has grown at 2.7% average annual growth rate (AAGR) over the past decade while total U.S. power production has grown at an anemic 3/10 of one percent over the same time period. There are currently 94 reactors operating in 29 states that produce 18.5% of the nation’s electricity. The current operating fleet of hydro and nuclear plants are aging. The average age of hydro and nuclear capacity in the U.S. is 66 and 39 years respectively. The average age of wind and solar capacity is 12 and 6 years respectively. Those are the facts!
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