© Preparing for refueling at a South Texas Project reactor.South Texas Project (STP), used with permission.

©STP. The reactor core.

©STP. Inserting the fuel assembly in the reactor core.

Contribution of Nuclear Power

In 2008, the State of Texas ranked 7th in nuclear capacity and 5th 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.

In 2004, the Nation set a new record for electricity generation at nuclear power plants. During 2004, the larger of Texas' two nuclear power plants was uprated in capacity, contributing to a new State record for nuclear output. For the first time, Texas generated more than 40 billion kilowatt hours. As a result, nuclear accounted for 2 percent more of the electricity supply than in either 2003 or 2002.

Like neighboring Louisiana, natural gas is the dominant fuel in the State's electricity sector. Also, like Louisiana, natural gas accounts for almost as much electricity as the 2nd ranked fuel (coal) and the 3rd ranked fuel (nuclear) combined.

Nearly 40 percent of Texas' electricity output relies on coal, and nearly all of that coal comes from captive mines (coal mines that are owned by the utilities they supply). Texas produces a low sulfur coal, an important consideration in the State's struggle to lower emissions rates. In 2002, Texas ranked highest in carbon dioxide emissions but fourth in sulfur dioxide emissions.

In 2007, natural gas accounted for nearly half 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.

Nuclear Power Generation in Texas, 1990 through 2004 Million Kilowatt Hours

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms.

Texas Nuclear Highlights

• The South Texas Project ranks 16th on the National Energy Information Center's list of the 100 Largest Utility Plants in the United States (based on 2003 data). Comanche Peak ranked 51st.
• The Texas Institute for the Advancement of Chemical Technology prepared a study of the potential impact of nuclear power on the chemical industry on Texas Gulf Coast. The study noted that rising gas prices had resulted in chemical plant closings. The final report, published February 28, 2005, is available on-line from the Department of Energy at http://www.nuclear.gov.

Until the recent uprating of the number 2 reactor at Palo Verde in Arizona, the two South Texas Project (STP) reactors were the largest in the Nation. The twin Texas reactors are still large enough to place South Texas' capacity in the upper fifth of the Nation's power plants. EIA ranked STP 16th in 2003

The South Texas Power plant initially planned to shut down prior to the onslaught of hurricane Rita. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent several inspectors to observe conditions at the plant. It was decided to keep South Texas in operation. South Texas 2 was in the act of gradually bring power down to prepare for re-fueling, but South Texas 1 continued to operate at full power. The fact that on-site power was available in the event of an emergency was an essential factor in the decision.

International Atomic Energy Agency PRIS file, Operating History, contains data on load factor, availability factor, historical output, and more.

License Renewal

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), all of the commercial reactors in Texas are fully licensed to operate until after 2020. The earliest expiration date for any of the four reactors is in 2027 (for South Texas 1).

Information on the current status of all license renewal applications appears on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov . To locate the data on this site, select "index" at the top and then choose the letter "l." Click on "license renewal".

Air Quality in Texas

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 Texas ranked highest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2007. The State's electric industry ranked 5th highest in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and highest in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions.

Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (CO2)*

*Carbon Dioxide

Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (SO2)*

*Sulfur Dioxide

Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (NOX)*

*Nitrogen Oxide

More Information on Texas' Nuclear Industry

Nuclear Generation

Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each State for the following years:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

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