Total megawatts of U.S. nuclear capacity offline right now (units in outages plus reduced power).
6,747
MW Offline
Percentage of total fleet capacity currently online and generating power.
93%
Fleet Online
Refueling outages scheduled for this season. Each one is a hiring window.
24
Fall 2026 Outages
Units currently at 0% power (likely in an outage or shutdown).
6
Units Offline
Units operating between 1-99% power (excluding known startups or coastdowns).
0
Reduced Power
Units nearing the end of their fuel cycle, gradually lowering power before an outage.
3
Coastdown
Units increasing power following an outage or scram.
1
Starting Up
Units on a qualifying Breaker-to-Breaker run: continuous operation exceeding their cycle-adjusted threshold with no trips to 0% power.
9
Breaker-to-Breaker
Nuclear NewsNEW Fusion Startup Builds Reactor With Magnetic MirrorsFusion Startup on a Shoestring Budget Spins Plasma With Salvaged Parts A Baltimore startup named Terra Fusion is developing an experimental nuclear reactor using salvaged medical MRI parts and secondhand brewing equipment. The company uses magnetic mirrors and supersonic plasma rotation to contain the reaction at a fraction of standard industry costs. While the global fusion sector relies heavily on multibillion-dollar tokamaks and laser systems, alternative designs offer potential savings in construction and maintenance. This low-budget approach tests whether simpler magnetic configurations can achieve commercial viability without the massive capital expenditures currently dominating the field. Old tech gets revived with salvaged parts and supersonic speeds _IEEE Spectrum_ is the flagship...
Nuclear NewsNEW How AI is exposing security gaps in energy assetsManufacturers of operational technology hardware are beginning to integrate built-in cybersecurity features directly into standard network switches. Energy facility operators can utilize upcoming hardware replacement cycles to upgrade network visibility and segmentation without replacing fully functional legacy infrastructure. AI is exposing hidden vulnerabilities in legacy energy infrastructure, making every OT hardware refresh a critical cybersecurity opportunity. The good news Manufacturers are already responding. Cisco is building OT security straight into the switching hardware rather tha...
Nuclear NewsNEW What Does Fleetwide AI Actually Mean for the U.S. Nuclear Industry?Atomic Canyon has launched the Nuclear Industry Virtual Assistant across the North American commercial nuclear fleet. Developed with industry organizations, the artificial intelligence tool allows nuclear professionals to search regulatory guidance, technical reports, and operating experience from a single platform. The deployment aims to reduce the time personnel spend searching siloed databases during maintenance, outages, and licensing work. Because the platform provides inline citations to underlying documents, engineers and operators can independently verify sources before making decision...
Nuclear NewsNEW Ultrasensitive heat sensor tracks X-rays from nuclear materialsResearchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed a new microcalorimeter array to measure X-rays emitted by radioactive materials. The cryogenic device detects single photons with high precision, improving the separation of overlapping X-ray and gamma-ray signals from uranium, neptunium, and plutonium. Accurately isolating these overlapping energy signatures helps technicians monitor nuclear fuel and waste more reliably at power plants and weapons facilities. As the deployment of small modular reactors increases demand for precise civilian material tracking, improved...
Nuclear NewsNEW Tiny amounts of rare radioisotopes, recovered during californium-252 production, in high demand for Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have improved the chemical recovery and purification processes for rare radioisotope byproducts obtained during californium-252 production campaigns. Technicians modified column separation steps to yield high-purity samples of berkelium, einsteinium, and fermium for external research. These rare actinide materials are required by scientific institutions to study heavy elements on the periodic table and potentially discover new ones. Refining the extraction chemistry also reduces radiation exposure for laboratory workers handling the materials inside pr...
Nuclear NewsNEW The Waymo effectThe latest issue of Nuclear News examines the integration of artificial intelligence and automation across the energy sector. Industry observers suggest that widespread adoption of advanced reactors will require machine learning and autonomous operations to maintain safety and efficiency. Facility operators must prepare the workforce for these technological shifts as digital systems become standard in plant operations. The focus of the September issue of Nuclear News issue is on new technology, and the stories within are reflective of the broader wave of innovation sweeping the industry—a wave...
Nuclear NewsNEW Indiana Gov. Braun announces new state-led nuclear energy programIndiana has partnered with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to become an Agreement State. This designation transfers authority for licensing and inspecting certain nuclear materials from federal regulators to state agencies. State officials expect the transition to reduce permit review times and support upcoming nuclear technology development. The governor and NRC chair announced that Indiana will be considered a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agreement State in a news conference. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun called a new partnership with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission a “major milestone” for th...
Nuclear NewsNEW TRISO-X nuclear fuel company announces completion of vertical construction in Oak RidgeConstruction crews have completed the exterior shell for the new TRISO-X fuel fabrication campus in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Workers are transitioning to interior buildouts and manufacturing equipment installation. The plant aims to begin commercial production during the first half of 2028. The facility holds the first Nuclear Regulatory Commission Category 2 fuel fabrication license issued for high-assay low-enriched uranium processing in over five decades. Once operational, the plant will produce TRISO fuel pebbles to support next-generation reactors. This development expands domestic fuel supp...
Nuclear NewsNEW Monument Valley and Rifle: Monitoring Plant-Based Approaches to Milling Site RemediationThe Department of Energy deployed advanced three-dimensional visualization software at the Monument Valley site to locate underground sources of nitrate contamination. Concurrently, federal officials initiated vegetation pilots in Rifle to limit groundwater infiltration at a former uranium mill tailings disposal cell. These projects highlight ongoing efforts to manage legacy contamination from mid-century uranium processing operations. By utilizing biological remediation and natural water management techniques, the agency aims to reduce reliance on energy-intensive mechanical extraction system...
Outage NewsNEW D.C. Cook 1 begins Fall 2026 refueling outageIndiana Michigan Power began a routine refueling outage at D.C. Cook 1 on 2026-09-19. The 1,009-MW Westinghouse 4-loop PWR started the maintenance period on the planned date with a scheduled duration of 32 days. The unit entered this refuel carrying a 1476-day unscheduled-outage-free streak after running about 91% of its typical 557-day operating cycle. The operator runs 1 other U.S. nuclear unit. The U.S. fleet today maintains a 92.8% capacity factor across 94 units, with 6 in refueling and 0 in unscheduled outages, alongside FitzPatrick. BRIDGMAN, MI. D.C. Cook 1 entered a refueling outage on Sep 19, 2026 . The unit started on the published date (Sep 19, 2026) with a planned 32-day outage running through Oct 21, 2026. Going into the refueling, the unit had run for more than 4 years witho...
Outage NewsNEW Davis-Besse trips offline, unscheduled outage underwayDavis-Besse began an unscheduled forced short outage on 2026-09-08. This event ended the unit's unscheduled-outage-free streak at 386 days. This is the first forced outage for the 894-MW Babcock and Wilcox PWR in 2026, matching the total count for all of 2025. Energy Harbor Nuclear Generation operates this unit along with three other U.S. nuclear units. Across the industry, 94 units are currently operating at a 95.4 percent capacity factor. Two units are currently in refueling outages, while Davis-Besse and Dresden 2 are the only two units in unscheduled outages at this time. OAK HARBOR, OH. A...
Outage NewsFitzPatrick begins Fall 2026 refueling outageFitzPatrick began a routine refueling outage on September 14, 2026, aligning exactly with its published schedule. The unit entered this maintenance period after completing 100 percent of its typical 729-day operating cycle and maintaining an unscheduled-outage-free streak of 720 days. The scheduled duration for this refueling outage is 17 days, which is shorter than the unit's 28.3-day average across 13 prior refuels. FitzPatrick, an 853-MW General Electric BWR/4 operated by Constellation Nuclear, recorded a 99.7 percent capacity factor during its 2025 cycle. Across the U.S. fleet, 94 units ar...
History & TriviaNEW This Hidden City In Tennessee Held One Of The World’s Most Closely-Guarded SecretsOak Ridge, Tennessee transformed rapidly from a rural farming town into a massive, classified site for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Thousands of workers labored in secrecy to produce material for the atomic weapons that ultimately brought an end to the global conflict. The historic site established strict security protocols and massive industrial infrastructure that laid the groundwork for modern nuclear research facilities. Today, the location preserves its wartime heritage while continuing to contribute to advancements in science, technology, and energy research within the nuclear sector. Oak Ridge Tennessee, is a massive secret hidden city that once held the location that built the first atom bomb that ended WWII. Government conspiracies, cover-ups, and secret military ope...
GeneralShift Test Engineer Career PathsI am doing my Shift Test Engineer initial qualification at a public shipyard. I'm going to complete my STE qualification but I have some doubts as to whether I am going to stay at this shipyard long-term. If after completing my initial qualification, I decide to go to a different shipyard, will I take my STE qualification with me and only have to cross-qualify to my new yard' platform(s) or will I be starting from scratch initial qualifying again?If I decide to go the commercial route, what are good departments for former STEs besides operations?
Nuclear SoftwareLooking for Rados softwareUpdate: I found out that Mirion bought Rados. I called Mirion and they informed me that they have discontinued the model and software. I haven't had any luck by reaching out to third parties.You're my only hope Obi-Wan :)









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