Uprates can increase U.S. nuclear capacity substantially without building new reactors

Uprates can increase U.S. nuclear capacity substantially without building new reactors. Originally published July 17, 2012.As of July 2012, there are 104 commercial nuclear reactors in the United States. In 2011, these plants provided 786 billion kilowatthours of electricity, or nearly one-fifth of total generation. The electrical output of the nuclear power plant fleet can be increased either by