EIA takes a closer look at US nuclear power generation.
Nuclear power plants in the United States were primarily built between 1970 and 1990. The average construction time increased from 7 years for plants with construction licenses issued between 1965 and 1970 to 11 years for licenses issued between 1973 and 1977. Construction costs for nuclear power plants also escalated sharply.There are 104 nuclear units currently operating in the United States, ranging in capacity from 478 to 1317 megawatts electric (MWe), and averaging 971 MWe in capacity.