Top navigation skipped
Energy is Good for Texas
Nuclear
Nuclear electric power energy generation is an important source of energy for Texas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Texas has two nuclear power plants with a combined installed capacity of more than 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Nuclear power is the fourth most used energy source in Texas, behind gas, wind and coal.
Nuclear power plants operate by fission, a reaction that breaks down a nucleus into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy in two forms: nuclear and thermal. Uranium is the primary fuel for fission reactions, and the U.S. is the 12th largest producer of mined uranium product.
Texas Nuclear Energy Produced
In 2022, nuclear plants contributed 10 percent of Texas’ total energy generation.
In 2021, there were more than 40 million megawatt hours (MWh) of nuclear energy produced in Texas.
There are currently 10 permits issued by the Texas Railroad Commission for uranium exploratory drilling and 7 in situ uranium mining permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Nuclear Energy By the Numbers
Nuclear Energy Economics in Texas Jobs, 2022
3,023
Average Annual Wage for Nuclear Energy Generation Jobs, 2022
$175,140
Gross Domestic Product, 2021
$1.4 billion
Map Details
| Power Plant | Operator | County | MWe | Licensed MWt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 1 | Luminant Generation | Somervell | 1,218 | 3,612 |
| Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 2 | Luminant Generation | Somervell | 1,207 | 3,612 |
| South Texas Project, Reactor 1 | STP Nuclear Operating Company | Matagorda | 1,250.6 | 3,853 |
| South Texas Project, Reactor 2 | STP Nuclear Operating Company | Matagorda | 1,250.6 | 3,853 |
| Seadrift Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Project (Future planned power plant) | Dow and X-Energy | Calhoun |
Notes: MWe is the potential electricity generation of which the reactor is capable in megawatts. MWt refers to thermal (heat) output in megawatts.
| Permit No. | Permittee | County |
|---|---|---|
| 121P | URI, Inc. | Kleberg |
| 122P | URI, Inc. | Duval |
| 124Q | South Texas Mining Venture | Duval |
| 125P | EFR Alta Mesa, LLC | Brooks & Jim Hogg |
| 142K | Uranium Energy Corp. | Goliad |
| 150J | Uranium Energy Corp. | Bee |
| 156A | URI, Inc. | Live Oak |
| 157A | URI, Inc. | Live Oak |
| 158A | URI, Inc. | Live Oak |
| 159 | URI, Inc. | Bee and Live Oak |
Sources: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Railroad Commission of Texas,
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
South Texas Project Electric Generation Station
Texas is home to the South Texas Project Electric Generation Station (STPEGS), a nuclear power plant spanning 12,220 acres in Matagorda County. STP, along with its operator, STP Nuclear Operating Company, is owned by the city of Austin (Austin Energy, 16 percent), the city of San Antonio (CPS Energy, 40 percent), and NRG Energy (44 percent). STPEGS houses two electric-generating reactors that provide energy to more than two million Texas households.
Outlook
The future for nuclear energy in Texas looks promising, especially with a third nuclear power complex coming online in Seadrift in the next few years. Furthermore, there is increasing attention on mining in the coastal plain, with extraction expected to begin again later this year. Growing local industry will help safeguard energy production from foreign interests and increase economic activity in the state.
This is one in a series of reports the Comptroller has prepared on energy in Texas.
See more information on energy Issues and the Texas economy.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.