See main article: List of nuclear reactors. This is a list of canceled nuclear reactors in the United States.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw a rapid growth in the development of nuclear power in the United States. By 1976, however, many nuclear plant proposals were no longer viable due to a slower rate of growth in electricity demand, significant cost and time overruns, and more complex regulatory requirements. Also, there was considerable public opposition to nuclear power in the US by this time, which contributed to delays in licensing planned nuclear power stations, and further increased costs.[1]
In 1969, a different type of reactor, Alvin Weinberg's molten salt reactor experiment at ORNL was shut down, after proving that molten salt combined with nuclear fuel can work without a LOCA (loss of cooling accident). Although just experimental, continued and aggressive development could have paved the way to much safer and less expensive reactors.[2] and [3]
By the end of the 1970s it became clear that nuclear power would not grow nearly as dramatically as once believed. This was particularly galvanized by the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. Eventually, more than 120 reactor orders were ultimately cancelled[4] and the construction of new reactors ground to a halt. Al Gore has commented on the historical record and reliability of nuclear power in the United States:
Of the 253 nuclear power reactors originally ordered in the United States from 1953 to 2008, 48 percent were cancelled, 11 percent were prematurely shut down, 14 percent experienced at least a one-year-or-more outage, and 27 percent are operating without having a year-plus outage. Thus, only about one fourth of those ordered, or about half of those completed, are still operating and have proved relatively reliable.[5]
A cover story in the February 11, 1985, issue of Forbes magazine commented on the overall management of the nuclear power program in the United States:
The failure of the U.S. nuclear power program ranks as the largest managerial disaster in business history, a disaster on a monumental scale ... only the blind, or the biased, can now think that the money has been well spent. It is a defeat for the U.S. consumer and for the competitiveness of U.S. industry, for the utilities that undertook the program and for the private enterprise system that made it possible.[6]
During the 2000s, aging infrastructure, growing power use and fears of global climate change all prompted what was then called the "nuclear renaissance". Engineering companies noted that the commissioning process was a major barrier to further construction, and changes to the system were carried out by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, along with new tax incentives and loan guarantees. As many as 30 new reactors were planned by 2009.[7]
, only two new reactors are still under construction, both at Vogtle. The project has announced significant delays and budget overruns. Most of the other new builds and the equally extensive list of upgrades to existing reactors have been shelved https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/01/new-red-tape-makes-new-nuclear-reactors-impossible/.
| Name | Unit | Type | Model* | Status | Location | Net capacity in MW | Gross capacity in MW | Contract year | Construction start | Project close | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allens Creek | 1 | BWR | GE | Wallis, | 1,160 | 1,207 | 1973 | - | 1982-09-01 | ||
| Allens Creek | 2 | BWR | GE | Wallis, | 1,160 | 1,207 | 1973 | - | 1976-09-01 | ||
| Alabama Power Co | 1 | BWR | GE | Selma, | - | - | - | ||||
| Alabama Power Co | 2 | BWR | GE | Selma, | - | - | - | ||||
| Atlantic (offshore) | 1 | PWR | Atlantic City, | 1,150 | 1,211 | 1972 | - | 1978-12-01 | |||
| Atlantic (offshore) | 2 | PWR | Atlantic City, | 1,150 | 1,211 | 1972 | - | 1978-12-01 | |||
| Atlantic (offshore) | 3 | PWR | Atlantic City, | 1,150 | 1,211 | 1973 | - | 1978-12-01 | |||
| Atlantic (offshore) | 4 | PWR | Atlantic City, | 1,150 | 1,211 | 1973 | - | 1978-12-01 | |||
| Bailly (converted to coal) | 1 | BWR | GE | Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, | 660 | 686 | 1967 | 1974-01-01 | 1981-08-01 | ||
| Barton | 1 | BWR | GE | Clanton, | 1,209 | 1,254 | 1972 | - | 1977-11-01 | ||
| Barton | 2 | BWR | GE | Clanton, | 1,209 | 1,254 | 1972 | - | 1977-11-01 | ||
| Barton | 3 | BWR | GE | Clanton, | 1,209 | 1,254 | 1974 | - | 1975-11-01 | ||
| Barton | 4 | BWR | GE | Clanton, | 1,209 | 1,254 | 1974 | - | 1975-11-01 | ||
| Bell Bend | 1 | PWR | Areva European Pressurized Water Reactor | Salem, | 1,600 | 1,720 | - | - | - | ||
| Bell Station | 1 | Lansing, | 838 | 1967 | - | 1972 | |||||
| Bellefonte | 1 | PWR | B&W Model 205 | Scottsboro, | 1,235 | 1,263 | 1970 | 1974-09-01 | 1988-01-01 | ||
| Bellefonte | 2 | PWR | B&W Model 205 | Scottsboro, | 1,235 | 1,263 | 1970 | 1974-09-01 | 1988-01-01 | ||
| Bellefonte | 3 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Scottsboro, | 1117 | - | - | - | |||
| Bellefonte | 4 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Scottsboro, | 1117 | - | - | - | |||
| Black Fox | 1 | BWR | GE | Inola, | 1,150 | 1,226 | 1973 | 1978-07-01 | 1982-02-01 | ||
| Black Fox | 2 | BWR | GE | Inola, | 1,150 | 1,226 | 1973 | 1978-07-01 | 1982-02-01 | ||
| Blue Hills (formerly Sunken Log) | 1 | PWR | Jasper, | 930 | 957 | 1973 | - | 1978-08-01 | |||
| Blue Hills (formerly Sunken Log) | 2 | PWR | Jasper, | 930 | 957 | 1974 | - | 1978-08-01 | |||
| Bodega Bay | 1 | BWR | GE | Bodega Head, | 313 | 589 | - | 1958 | 1964 | ||
| Callaway | 2 | PWR | Callaway, | 1,120 | 1,176 | 1973 | 1975-10-01 | 1981-10-01 | |||
| Callaway | 2 | PWR | Areva European Pressurized Water Reactor | Callaway, | 1,600 | 2008 | - | 2015-8 | |||
| Calvert Cliffs | 3 | PWR | Areva European Pressurized Water Reactor | Calvert County, | 1,600 | 1,720 | - | - | 2015-06-08 | ||
| Carroll County | 1 | PWR | Savanna, | 1,120 | 1,150 | 1978 | - | 1988-12-01 | |||
| Carroll County | 2 | PWR | Savanna, | 1,120 | 1,150 | 1978 | - | 1988-12-01 | |||
| Central Iowa | 1 | BWR | GE | 1,100 | 1,160 | - | - | 1975-09-01 | |||
| 1 | PWR | Gaffney, | 1,280 | 1,343 | 1973 | 1976-06-01 | 1983-04-01 | ||||
| Cherokee | 2 | PWR | Gaffney, | 1,280 | 1,343 | 1973 | 1976-06-01 | 1982-11-01 | |||
| Cherokee | 3 | PWR | Gaffney, | 1,280 | 1,343 | 1973 | 1976-06-01 | 1982-11-01 | |||
| Clinch River Breeder Reactor | 1 | FBR | United States Atomic Energy Commission | Oak Ridge, | 350 | 380 | 1973 | - | 1983-11-01 | ||
| Clinton | 2 | BWR | GE | Clinton, | 933 | 985 | 1973 | 1975-10-01 | 1983-10-01 | ||
| Columbia (WNP-1/WPPSS-1) | 1 | PWR | Richland, | 1,259 | 1,339 | 1972 | 1975-08-01 | 1983-01-01 | |||
| Columbia (WNP-4/WPPSS-4) | 4 | PWR | Richland, | 1,250 | 1,340 | 1974 | 1975-08-01 | 1982-01-01 | |||
| Comanche Peak | 3 | PWR | Somervell County, | 1,700 | - | - | 2013-11-07 | ||||
| Comanche Peak | 4 | PWR | Somervell County, | 1,700 | - | - | 2013-11-07 | ||||
| Crystal River | 4 | PWR | Crystal River, | 897 | 940 | 1971 | - | 1972-07-01 | |||
| Davis Besse | 2 | PWR | Oak Harbor, | 910 | 960 | 1973 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Davis Besse | 3 | PWR | Oak Harbor, | 910 | 960 | 1973 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Douglas Point (US) | 1 | BWR | GE | Charles County, | 1,178 | 1,206 | 1972 | - | 1980-05-01 | ||
| Douglas Point (US) | 2 | BWR | GE | Charles County, | 1,178 | 1,206 | 1972 | - | 1978-01-01 | ||
| Erie | 1 | PWR | Berlin Heights, | 1,260 | 1,300 | 1976 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Erie | 2 | PWR | Berlin Heights, | 1,260 | 1,300 | 1976 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Floating | 1 | PWR | Jacksonville, | 1,150 | 1,211 | - | - | 1979-01-01 | |||
| Floating | 2 | PWR | Jacksonville, | 1,150 | 1,211 | - | - | 1979-01-01 | |||
| Forked River | 1 | PWR | Forked River, | 1,070 | 1,123 | 1969 | 1973-08-01 | 1980-11-01 | |||
| Fort Calhoun | 2 | PWR | Fort Calhoun, | 1,136 | 1,182 | 1972 | - | 1977-02-01 | |||
| Fulton | 1 | HTGR | GA | Lancaster, | 1,160 | 1,200 | 1971 | - | 1976-03-01 | ||
| Fulton | 2 | HTGR | GA | Lancaster, | 1,160 | 1,200 | 1971 | - | 1976-03-01 | ||
| Galena | 1 | SFR | Toshiba 4S | Galena, | 10 | 2008 | - | - | |||
| Grand Gulf | 2 | BWR | GE | Port Gibson, | 1,250 | 1,302 | 1972 | 1974-05-01 | 1990-12-01 | ||
| Grand Gulf | 3 | BWR | GE | Port Gibson, | 1,520 | 1,600 | 1973 | - | 2015-02-09 | ||
| Greene County | 1 | PWR | Clementon, | 1,191 | 1,277 | 1974 | - | 1979-04-01 | |||
| Greenwood | 2 | PWR | Port Huron, | 1,208 | 1,268 | 1972 | - | 1980-03-01 | |||
| Greenwood | 3 | PWR | Port Huron, | 1,208 | 1,268 | 1972 | - | 1980-03-01 | |||
| Hartsville | A1 | BWR | GE | Hartsville, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1972 | 1976-04-01 | 1984-08-01 | ||
| Hartsville | A2 | BWR | GE | Hartsville, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1972 | 1976-04-01 | 1984-08-01 | ||
| Hartsville | B1 | BWR | GE | Hartsville, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1972 | 1976-04-01 | 1982-08-01 | ||
| Hartsville | B2 | BWR | GE | Hartsville, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1972 | 1976-04-01 | 1982-08-01 | ||
| Haven | 1 | PWR | Haven, | 900 | 960 | 1973 | - | 1980-02-01 | |||
| Haven | 2 | PWR | Haven, | 900 | 960 | 1974 | - | 1978-05-01 | |||
| Hope Creek | 2 | BWR | GE | Hancocks Bridge, | 1,067 | 1,118 | 1969 | 1976-03-01 | 1981-12-01 | ||
| Jamesport | 1 | PWR | Jamesport, | 1,150 | 1,182 | 1973 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Jamesport | 2 | PWR | Jamesport, | 1,150 | 1,182 | 1974 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Koshkonong | 1 | PWR | Cancelled Plan | Jefferson County, Wisconsin | 900 | 900 | 1973 | - | 1977-01-10 | ||
| Koshkonong | 2 | PWR | Cancelled Plan | Jefferson County, Wisconsin | 900 | 900 | 1973 | - | 1977-01-10 | ||
| Levy County | 1 | PWR | Levy County, | 1,117 | 2008 | - | 2013-08-01 | ||||
| Levy County | 2 | PWR | Levy County, | 1,117 | 2008 | - | 2013-08-01 | ||||
| Malibu | 1 | PWR | Corral Canyon, | 462 | 1963 | - | 1972 | ||||
| Marble Hill | 1 | PWR | Paynesville, | 1,030 | 1,090 | 1973 | 1977-07-01 | 1984-01-01 | |||
| Marble Hill | 2 | PWR | Paynesville, | 1,130 | 1,190 | 1973 | 1977-07-01 | 1984-01-01 | |||
| Mayport | 1 | Mayport, | 1969 | - | - | ||||||
| Mayport | 2 | Mayport, | 1969 | - | - | ||||||
| Midland | 1 | PWR | Midland, | 491 | 526 | 1968 | 1973-03-01 | 1986-07-01 | |||
| Midland | 2 | PWR | Midland, | 816 | 855 | 1968 | 1973-03-01 | 1986-07-01 | |||
| Montague | 1 | BWR | GE | Montague, | 1,150 | 1,298 | 1974 | - | 1980-12-01 | ||
| Montague | 2 | BWR | GE | Montague, | 1,150 | 1,298 | 1974 | - | 1980-12-01 | ||
| Newbold Island (relocated to Hope Creek) | 1 | BWR | GE | Bordentown, | - | - | - | ||||
| Newbold Island (relocated to Hope Creek) | 2 | BWR | GE | Bordentown, | - | - | - | ||||
| New England (NEP) | 1 | PWR | Charlestown, | 1,150 | 1,194 | 1974 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| New England (NEP) | 2 | PWR | Charlestown, | 1,150 | 1,194 | 1974 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| New Haven | 1 | PWR | New Haven, | 1,250 | 1,300 | 1977 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| New Haven | 2 | PWR | New Haven, | 1,250 | 1,300 | 1977 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Nine Mile Point | 3 | PWR | Scriba, | 1,600 | 2008 | - | 2013-11-25 | ||||
| North Anna | 3 | PWR | Mineral, | 907 | 950 | 1971 | 1971-06-01 | 1982-11-01 | |||
| North Anna | 4 | PWR | Mineral, | 907 | 950 | 1971 | 1971-12-01 | 1980-11-01 | |||
| North Coast (formerly Aguirre/Isolte) | 1 | PWR | Arecibo, | 583 | 614 | 1970 | - | 1978-12-01 | |||
| North Coast (formerly Aguirre/Isolte) | 2 | PWR | Arecibo, | - | - | 1973 | - | - | |||
| NYSE&G | 1 | PWR | 1,250 | - | 1977 | - | 1980 | ||||
| NYSE&G | 2 | PWR | 1,250 | - | 1977 | - | 1980 | ||||
| Orange/Orlando | 1 | PWR | Orlando, | 1,300 | 1,360 | 1974 | - | 1975-12-01 | |||
| Orange/Orlando | 2 | PWR | Orlando, | 1,300 | 1,360 | 1974 | - | 1975-12-01 | |||
| Palo Verde | 4 | PWR | Tonopah, | 1,270 | 1,307 | 1977 | - | 1979-07-01 | |||
| Palo Verde | 5 | PWR | Tonopah, | 1,270 | 1,307 | 1977 | - | 1979-07-01 | |||
| Pebble Springs | 1 | PWR | Arlington, | 1,260 | 1,314 | 1973 | - | 1982-09-01 | |||
| Pebble Springs | 2 | PWR | Arlington, | 1,260 | 1,314 | 1974 | - | 1982-09-01 | |||
| Perkins | 1 | PWR | Mocksville, | 1,287 | 1,345 | 1973 | - | 1982-02-01 | |||
| Perkins | 2 | PWR | Mocksville, | 1,287 | 1,345 | 1973 | - | 1982-02-01 | |||
| Perkins | 3 | PWR | Mocksville, | 1,287 | 1,345 | 1973 | - | 1982-02-01 | |||
| Perry | 2 | BWR | GE | Perry, | 1,205 | 1,250 | 1974 | 1974-10-01 | 1984-04-01 | ||
| Perryman | 1 | PWR | Baltimore, | 845 | 880 | 1972 | - | 1972-11-01 | |||
| Perryman | 2 | PWR | Baltimore, | 845 | 880 | 1972 | - | 1972-11-01 | |||
| Phipps Bend | 1 | BWR | GE | Kingsport, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1974 | 1977-10-01 | 1982-08-01 | ||
| Phipps Bend | 2 | BWR | GE | Kingsport, | 1,233 | 1,269 | 1974 | 1977-10-01 | 1982-08-01 | ||
| Pilgrim | 2 | PWR | Plymouth, | 1,180 | 1,240 | 1972 | - | 1981-09-01 | |||
| Pilgrim | 3 | PWR | Plymouth, | 1,180 | 1,240 | - | - | 1974-07-01 | |||
| Quanicassee | 1 | PWR | Bay City, | 1,150 | 1972 | - | 1974 | ||||
| Quanicassee | 2 | PWR | Bay City, | 1,150 | 1972 | - | 1974 | ||||
| Ravenswood | 1 | PWR | Long Island, | 500 | 1962 | - | 1964-01-06 | ||||
| Ravenswood | 2 | PWR | Long Island, | 500 | 1962 | - | 1964-01-06 | ||||
| River Bend | 2 | BWR | GE | St. Francisville, | 934 | 991 | 1973 | 1975-08-01 | 1984-01-01 | ||
| River Bend | 3 | BWR | GE | St. Francisville, | 1520 | 1600 | - | - | 2015-12-04 | ||
| San Joaquin Nuclear Project | 1 | Kern County, | 1300 | 1973 | - | 1978-03-31 | |||||
| San Joaquin Nuclear Project | 2 | Kern County, | 1300 | 1973 | - | 1978-03-31 | |||||
| San Joaquin Nuclear Project | 3 | Kern County, | 1300 | 1973 | - | 1978-03-31 | |||||
| San Joaquin Nuclear Project | 4 | Kern County, | 1300 | 1973 | - | 1978-03-31 | |||||
| Satsop (WNP-3/WPPSS-3) | 3 | PWR | Combustion Engineering | Elma, | 1,240 | 1,324 | 1973 | 1977-04-01 | 1983-01-01 | ||
| Satsop (WNP-5/WPPSS-5) | 5 | PWR | Combustion Engineering | Elma, | 1,240 | 1,316 | 1974 | 1977-04-01 | 1982-01-01 | ||
| Seabrook | 2 | PWR | Seabrook, | 1,149 | 1,199 | 1972 | 1976-07-01 | 1988-01-01 | |||
| Sears Isle | 1 | PWR | Sears Island, | 1,150 | 1974 | - | 1977 | ||||
| Shearon Harris | 2 | PWR | WH 3-Loop | Bonsal, | 900 | 960 | 1971 | 1978-01-01 | 1983-12-01 (2013) | ||
| Shearon Harris | 3 | PWR | WH 3-Loop | Bonsal, | 900 | 960 | 1971 | 1978-01-01 | 1983-12-01 (2013) | ||
| Shearon Harris | 4 | PWR | WH 3-Loop | Bonsal, | 900 | 960 | 1971 | 1978-01-01 | 1983-12-01 | ||
| Shearon Harris | 2 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Bonsal, | 1,117 | 1,250 | - | - | 2013-05-02 | ||
| Shearon Harris | 3 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Bonsal, | 1,117 | 1,250 | - | - | 2013-05-02 | ||
| Skagit-Hanford | 1 | BWR | GE | Sedro Woolley, | 1,275 | 1,335 | 1973 | - | 1983-08-01 | ||
| Skagit-Hanford | 2 | BWR | GE | Sedro Woolley, | 1,275 | 1,335 | 1974 | - | 1983-08-01 | ||
| Somerset | 1 | BWR | GE | Somerset, | 1,190 | 1,247 | 1974 | - | 1977-05-01 | ||
| Somerset | 2 | BWR | GE | Somerset, | 1,190 | 1,247 | 1974 | - | 1977-05-01 | ||
| South Dade | 1 | PWR | Miami-Dade County, | 1,150 | 1,210 | 1975 | - | 1977-05-01 | |||
| South Dade | 2 | PWR | Miami-Dade County, | 1,150 | 1,210 | 1975 | - | 1977-05-01 | |||
| South River | 1 | PWR | 1,150 | 1,200 | 1973 | - | 1979-01-01 | ||||
| South River | 2 | PWR | 1,150 | 1,200 | 1973 | - | 1979-01-01 | ||||
| South River | 3 | PWR | 1,150 | 1,200 | 1973 | - | 1974-12-01 | ||||
| South Texas | 3 | BWR | Toshiba Advanced Boiling Water Reactor | Matagorda County, | 2018[8] | ||||||
| South Texas | 4 | BWR | Toshiba Advanced Boiling Water Reactor | Matagorda County, | 2018 | ||||||
| Stanislaus | 1 | BWR | GE | Stanislaus County, | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1971 | - | 1979 | ||
| Stanislaus | 2 | BWR | GE | Stanislaus County, | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1971 | - | 1979 | ||
| Sterling | 1 | PWR | Oswego, | 1,150 | 1,185 | 1973 | - | 1980-01-01 | |||
| Summit | 1 | HTGR | GA | Whitehall, | 770 | 781 | 1971 | - | 1975-11-01 | ||
| Summit | 2 | HTGR | GA | Whitehall, | 770 | 781 | 1971 | - | 1975-11-01 | ||
| Sundesert | 1 | PWR | Blythe, | 934 | 978 | 1975 | - | 1978-05-01 | |||
| Sundesert | 2 | PWR | Blythe, | 934 | 978 | 1975 | - | 1978-05-01 | |||
| Surry | 3 | PWR | Louisa County, | 859 | 919 | 1972 | 1974-01-01 | 1977-03-01 | |||
| Surry | 4 | PWR | Louisa County, | 859 | 919 | 1972 | 1974-01-01 | 1977-03-01 | |||
| Tyrone | 1 | PWR | Durand, | 1,150 | 1,188 | 1973 | - | 1979-07-01 | |||
| Tyrone | 2 | PWR | Durand, | 1,150 | 1,188 | 1973 | - | 1975-12-01 | |||
| Vandalia (Iowa) | 1 | PWR | Vandalia, | 1,270 | 1,300 | 1976 | - | 1982-02-01 | |||
| Vidal | 1 | HTGR | GA | Vidal Valley, | 770 | 1972 | - | 1974 | |||
| Vidal | 2 | HTGR | GA | Vidal Valley, | 770 | 1972 | - | 1974 | |||
| V.C. Summer | 2 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Jenkinsville, | 1,117 | 1,250 | 2008 | 2013-03-09 | 2017-07-31 | ||
| V.C. Summer | 3 | PWR | WH AP1000 | Jenkinsville, | 1,117 | 1,250 | 2008 | 2013-03-09 | 2017-07-31 | ||
| Verplanck (formerly Indian Point-4) | 1 | BWR | GE | Buchanan, | 1,100 | 1,115 | 1968 | - | 1975 | ||
| Verplanck (formerly Indian Point-5) | 2 | BWR | GE | Buchanan, | 1,100 | 1,115 | 1968 | - | 1975 | ||
| Victoria County Station | 1 | BWR | GEH | Victoria County, | 1,535 | 2008 | - | 2012-08-28 | |||
| Victoria County Station | 2 | BWR | GEH | Victoria County, | 1,535 | 2008 | - | 2012-08-28 | |||
| 3 | PWR | WH 4-Loop | Burke County, | 1,113 | 1973 | - | 1974 | ||||
| 4 | PWR | WH 4-Loop | Burke County, | 1,113 | 1973 | - | 1974 | ||||
| Yellow Creek | 1 | PWR | Corinth, | 1,285 | 1,339 | 1974 | 1978-02-01 | 1984-08-30 | |||
| Yellow Creek | 2 | PWR | Corinth, | 1,285 | 1,339 | 1974 | 1978-02-01 | 1984-08-30 | |||
| Zimmer (converted to coal) | 1 | BWR | GE | Moscow, | 810 | 840 | 1969 | 1972-10-01 | 1984-01-01 | ||
| Zimmer | 2 | BWR | GE | Moscow, | 1,125 | 1,172 | 1974 | - | 1984-01-01 | ||