Page 1 GAO-25-107807 Nuclear Power
September 23, 2025
The Honorable John Kennedy
Chair
The Honorable Patty Murray
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
The Honorable Chuck Fleischmann
Chairman
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations
House of Representatives
Nuclear Power: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Relies on Information From its Reactor
Oversight Process to Ensure Safety
The United States has the largest fleet of nuclear power reactors in the world, and nuclear
power has accounted for about 20 percent of annual U.S. electricity generation since the late
1980s. In recent years, nuclear energy has provided nearly half of our nation’s carbon-free
electricity, making it the largest domestic source of carbon-free energy.
1
Currently, the United
States has 94 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states.
2
As of April 2024, the average age of nuclear reactors in the United States is about 42 years old.
The federal government, through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), regulates
commercial nuclear power reactors by certifying designs, issuing licenses and license renewals,
and conducting inspections, among other things. NRC’s mission involves protecting public
health and safety through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation. In recent
years, the U.S. nuclear power industry has faced economic and financial challenges, particularly
for reactors located in competitive power markets where natural gas and renewable power
generators influence wholesale electricity prices.
A House report accompanying the Energy and Water Development appropriations bills for fiscal
year 2024 included a provision for us to provide a report on NRC oversight of nuclear power
1
Nuclear power plants emit no carbon dioxide during operations and, unlike many sources of renewable energy,
typically operate around the clock, producing on average above 90 percent of their generating capacity, according to
the Energy Information Administration.
2
Nuclear power plants are facilities that can host multiple nuclear reactors and other support facilities such as
auxiliary buildings that host safety and other systems associated with the reactor (e.g., emergency cooling water
systems and radioactive waste systems).
