U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation at Record Level in 2008
April 1, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC – April 1, 2009 – Total nuclear generation reached a new high of 808.97 million megawatt hours, a slight increase over the 806.49 million megawatt hours generated in 2007 according to preliminary Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.
Nuclear power accounted for 19.7 percent of U.S. electricity generation in 2008, up from 19.4 percent in 2007.
Illinois again led the Nation in nuclear generation in 2008, but the biggest gains were experienced in two southern States: Alabama generated 5.3 million megawatt hours more electricity than in 2007, a 15 percent increase, and Florida generated 3.0 million more megawatt hours, a 10 percent increase.
Generation declined in 15 of the 31 states with nuclear capacity, with the biggest drop coming in California. California’s output was nearly 11 percent lower than in 2007, a drop of 3.8 million megawatt hours. Kansas experienced the second largest drop, 1.9 million megawatt hours, or 18 percent.
