You’ve probably seen those viral maps of the Texas power grid during a freeze. They’re usually a mess of red and blue lines that make the state look like it's running on hope and a few old batteries. But there’s a massive piece of the puzzle that people constantly misread on the nuclear reactors in texas map: the actual location and future of our "big nukes."
Honestly, most people think Texas is just oil, gas, and a whole lot of wind turbines. They aren't entirely wrong. Wind is huge here. But while everyone argues about solar panels and natural gas pipelines, two massive nuclear plants are quietly doing the heavy lifting in the background. If you look at a map of Texas today, you'll see two primary dots that represent the backbone of our carbon-free baseload power.
The Two Titans on the Current Map
Right now, if you pull up a map of operating nuclear facilities in the Lone Star State, you’re only looking at two spots. That’s it. Just two.
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First, you have the South Texas Project (STP). It sits down in Matagorda County, about 90 miles southwest of Houston. It’s a beast. We're talking two massive pressurized water reactors that crank out about 2,700 megawatts. To put that in perspective, that’s enough to juice up about two million Texas homes. It’s owned by a trio: Constellation Energy (44%), CPS Energy (40%), and Austin Energy (16%).
Then, you’ve got Comanche Peak. This one is up in Somervell County, near Glen Rose (about 40 miles south of Fort Worth). It’s run by Luminant, which is part of Vistra Corp. It’s slightly smaller than STP but still a heavyweight, providing roughly 2,400 megawatts.
Between these two sites, Texas gets about 10% of its electricity. It’s the kind of power that doesn’t care if the wind stops blowing or the sun goes down. It just... stays on.
Why the Map Is About to Look Crowded
Here is where it gets interesting. If you’re looking at a nuclear reactors in texas map from 2023, it’s already obsolete. As of early 2026, the map is sprouting new "points of interest" that aren't traditional giant domes.
Basically, the era of the "Mega-Plant" is being challenged by something called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
The Seadrift Revolution
Down in Calhoun County, at Dow’s Seadrift manufacturing site, things are getting real. Dow and X-energy are working on a project to install four Xe-100 SMRs. These aren't the city-sized reactors we're used to. Each one is about 80 megawatts.
Why does this matter? Because for the first time, a major American industrial site is going to be powered entirely by its own "on-site" nuclear fleet. Construction is slated to kick off right about now in 2026, with the goal of being fully operational by the turn of the decade. It changes the map from "Utility Centers" to "Industrial Power Hubs."
The Abilene Wildcard
Don't sleep on West Texas. Abilene Christian University (ACU) has been pushing the NEXT Lab project. They’ve been working on a molten salt research reactor. It’s small, but it’s a huge deal for the map because it proves Texas isn't just a place where we run reactors—it's where we invent them.
The Ghost Reactors of the Past
You might see "Units 3 and 4" mentioned on some older versions of a nuclear reactors in texas map. If you’re looking at South Texas Project, there was a plan—a big one—to double the capacity there. They even had the NRC licenses.
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But then the shale gas boom happened.
Natural gas became so cheap that the math for multi-billion dollar nuclear expansions just didn't work anymore. The projects were shelved. They aren't dead, technically, but they’re in a sort of "regulatory cryosleep." When people look at the map and see four units at STP, they’re looking at a dream that was put on ice around 2011.
What’s Keeping These Plants Alive?
You’d think a plant built in the 80s would be heading for retirement. Nope.
In late 2024 and throughout 2025, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave Comanche Peak a massive win. They extended the operating licenses for Units 1 and 2. Now, those reactors are cleared to run until 2050 and 2053.
Texas is doubling down on what it already has while it waits for the SMRs to prove they can scale. It’s a "bridge" strategy. Keep the old lions roaring while the cubs learn to hunt.
The "Invisible" Part of the Map: Uranium
If you zoom out on your nuclear reactors in texas map, you’ll see markers in South Texas that aren't plants. They're mines.
Texas has a long history of uranium mining, specifically "In-Situ Recovery" (ISR). This isn't the dusty, open-pit mining you see in old movies. It’s a process where they circulate oxygenated water through the ore and pull the uranium out of the solution. Areas like Bee, Goliad, and Kleberg counties have these deposits.
While many were paused when uranium prices tanked, the recent push for "American-made" fuel has sparked a bit of a gold rush. Companies like Uranium Energy Corp (UEC) and enCore Energy have been dusting off these sites. If you want a truly accurate map of Texas nuclear power, you have to include the fuel source sitting right under the brush in South Texas.
The Reality Check: Why More Haven't Been Built
It’s easy to look at a map and say, "Why don't we just put ten more dots on there?"
The "kinda" annoying truth is that nuclear is incredibly hard to build. It’s not just the regulation. It's the water. Nuclear plants are thirsty. They need massive amounts of cooling water, which is why STP is near the Gulf and Comanche Peak is next to Squaw Creek Reservoir. In a state that deals with frequent droughts, finding a site with enough water that isn't already claimed by a city or a farm is a logistical nightmare.
Also, the "Big Nuclear" builds like the Vogtle plant in Georgia became famous for being years late and billions over budget. Texas investors are skittish. That's why the current map is shifting toward SMRs—they're smaller, cheaper, and you can build them in a factory then ship them to the site.
Actionable Insights for Texans
If you’re trying to understand how this affects your power bill or your neighborhood, keep these points in mind:
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- Watch the SMR Permits: Keep an eye on the NRC’s "Expected Applications" dashboard. If you see more industrial sites like Dow Seadrift popping up, the map is shifting from centralized grid power to "micro-grids" for big industry.
- The "Clean Energy" Tax Credit: The federal government is basically subsidizing the life extension of these plants. This means STP and Comanche Peak are likely to stay on the map for your entire lifetime.
- Workforce Opportunities: There is a massive shortage of nuclear technicians in Texas right now. If you're looking for a career that the "energy transition" won't kill, the nuclear sector in Somervell and Matagorda counties is hiring.
- Real Estate Check: Living near a plant? The NRC maintains a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). If you're looking at property on the nuclear reactors in texas map, check if it falls within these zones for your own awareness of local emergency drills.
The Texas nuclear story isn't about a dying industry. It’s about a pivot. We’re moving from two giant fortresses of power to a more distributed, tech-heavy landscape. The map is getting more dots; they’re just smaller than they used to be.
Next Steps for You
- Check the ERCOT Dashboard: During the next heatwave, look at the "Fuel Mix" section on the ERCOT website. You'll see "Nuclear" sitting at a steady 5,000+ MW, unaffected by the weather.
- Verify Local Maps: If you are house hunting in North or South Texas, cross-reference your location with the NRC’s Facility Map to see the exact boundaries of the exclusion zones.
- Monitor the Texas Nuclear Power Fund: Proposed legislation in 2025/2026 aims to create a state-backed fund specifically for new reactors. If this passes, expect those "planned" dots on the map to turn into "under construction" very quickly.