U.S. Nuclear Power Growth Lags Significantly Behind China's Expansion
The United States has added only one nuclear power plant, Georgia’s Plant Vogtle, in the past decade, while China has added 34 gigawatts of nuclear capacity during the same period. This disparity puts China on track to become the world's largest nuclear power producer within the next five years, surpassing both France and the U.S. According to Damien Ma, energy lead analyst for Gavekal Technologies, China's nuclear industry is projected to be the most dynamic globally through 2035, largely due to its construction efficiencies, which allow new plants to be built in about six years compared to over a decade in the U.S. The U.S. currently operates 96 reactors across 28 states, but the average age of these units is 44 years, exceeding their initial 40-year license. The slow pace of U.S. nuclear development is attributed to a combination of factors, including a lack of recent construction experience, extensive regulatory hurdles, and significant financial challenges associated with multi-billion-dollar projects... 
