Nuclear facilities set reliability record.

• Position: Energy Production - Brief article

U.S. nuclear energy facilities generated electricity at a record high level of reliability in 2015, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington, D.C. Ninety-nine nuclear power plants operating in 30 states posted an estimated average capacity factor of 91.9%, That surpasses the industry's prior record set in 2007 by one-tenth of one percentage point. Capacity factor measures the total electricity generated as a percentage of potential generation for the entire year.

Actual electricity production from nuclear energy facilities fast year was the fifth highest ever, at an estimated 797,900,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kwh). The industry's record high electricity generation came in 2010, when the 104 reactors then operating produced 806,900,000,000 kwh of electricity while posting an industry average capacity factor of 90.9%.

The amount of electricity generated in 2015 exceeded the amount produced in 2014, even though one less plant operated due to the closing of Vermont Yankee. This record efficiency is even more important as states strive to meet new carbon-reduction targets for the electric sector.

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