Credit:  CCNPPI Calvert Cliffs, the first nuclear power plant to receive a license extension from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Maryland Nuclear Highlights

• In 2008, the State of Maryland ranked 20th in nuclear capacity and 19th in nuclear generation. Monthly and cumulative nuclear generation and annual nuclear capacity for each State and each reactor is reported in a table elsewhere on this site.
• On March 23, 2000, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the application for license extensions of Calvert Cliffs" reactors, the first such award in U.S. history.
• , the annual capacity factor (the ratio of the maximum possible generation based on peak summer usage to the actual generation) exceeded 100 percent for unit 2 at Calvert Cliffs.  Unit 2 was among the world's leaders in capacity utilization (101.7 percent).
• Calvert Cliffs is noteworthy for more than the nuclear power plant.  The area is of significant interest to geologists and to fossil collectors.  Three geologic formations of the Miocene Age are exposed here.  Fossil hunters and amateur geologists may wish to consult the Maryland Geological Survey website.
• On the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) list of 100 largest power plants, Calvert Cliffs ranks 97th in capacity.

Nuclear Generation in Maryland, 1960 through 2003 Million Kilowatt Hours

Sources: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data Report 1999, and Electric Power Annual, Volume 1, 2001, and EIA Survey Form 906.

Competing Fuels

In 2007, coal accounted for 60 percent of the electricity generated by the State. The percentage of electricity generated by coal, gas, nuclear, and hydropower for each state with at least one commercial reactor is reported in the Electricity Market table.

License Renewal 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the application for license extensions of both units.  With the license extensions, unit 1 can operate until 2034 and unit 2, until 2036.

Information on the current status of all license renewal applications appears on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov .  To locate the data, select "index,"then select the letter "l"and click on "License Renewal."

Air Quality in Maryland

Total greenhouse emissions for the electric power industry of each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, are reported for the most current data year.

Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of Maryland ranked 31st highest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2007. The State's electric industry ranked 13th highest in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and 30th highest in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions.

Where to Go Next (your choice)

To Next State in this Series (Massachusetts)

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