As Eastern U.S. Sizzles, U.S. Nuclear Plants Operate at Exceptional Levels to Stabilize Grid

WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the Eastern United States suffered through record-breaking triple-digit temperatures threatening brownouts and blackouts, the nation's nuclear power plants posted an average operating capacity of 97 percent July 4-7.

Eighty-five reactors across the country ran at 100 percent operating capacity during the entire week. One hundred two of the nation's 104 nuclear power plants were operational this week, with two plants offline for refueling and maintenance work.

"The reliability of nuclear energy facilities in not only powering America's economy, but also in cooling homes and offices in extreme conditions, was vital to the stability of our electric grid," said Alex Marion, vice president of nuclear operations for the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Data on plant operating capacity is reported in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's daily power reactor status reports every morning. Specific plant operating status can be found on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/reactor-status/2010/index.html.

The nation's 104 nuclear power plants operating in 31 states have a combined generating capacity of 100,755 megawatts of electricity, enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 60 million Americans.

SOURCE Nuclear Energy Institute