An interesting look at the state of the nuclear power industry in the United States, just six years after the disaster at Three Mile Island.

This outline map of the country uses four distinct symbols to show the locations of nuclear power plants in operation, under construction, on order, or “postponed indefinitely” as of August 1, 1985. A long table lists a total of 129 “units” (i.e. reactors) distributed across 93 locations concentrated east of the Mississippi, and gives the capacity, reactor supplier, lead architect engineering firm, and actual or planned date of operation. The table lists 33 reactors as under construction, 5 as postponed and only 2 on order, surely a result of the turn against nuclear power following Three Mile Island. Indeed, even as an argument can be made for nuclear power’s appeal as an alternative to fossil fuels, as of 2022 there were only 92 reactors at 53 locations in operation across the country. (web site of the Nuclear Energy Institute)

The map seems to have been offered as an enclosure with an issue of Nuclear News, a publication of the American Nuclear Society, an international not-for-profit organization for engineers, scientists and other professionals in the nuclear industry. The Society’s mission commits it to “advancing, fostering and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.”

“Nuclear News is recognized worldwide as the flagship trade publication for the nuclear community. News reports cover plant operations, maintenance and security; policy and legislation; international developments; research and nonpower applications; food irradiation; nuclear medicine; space nuclear applications; waste management and fuel; and business and contract award news. The magazine has been published by the American Nuclear Society since 1959.” (from the web site of the American Nuclear Society)