McGuire
McGuire is a nuclear plant in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, operated by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. By nameplate capacity it is the 37th-largest power plant in the United States and the third-largest in North Carolina. It is the biggest of North Carolina’s 3 nuclear plants. Its biggest unit, rated at 1,220 MW, is the second-largest single generator in North Carolina.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
2,441 MW
2,316 MW net summer capacity
2 operable units
- Nuclear2,441 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1981 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
Unit 1 Nuclear, 1,220 MW, 1981
Unit 2 Nuclear, 1,220 MW, 1984
Among North Carolina’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Roxboro2,558 MW
- 2Belews Creek2,491 MW
- 3McGuirethis plant
- 4Sherwood H Smith Jr Energy Complex2,245 MW
- 5Lincoln Combustion2,156 MW
Other rankings
- US nuclear plants
- 13th of 56
- Plants in the Duke Energy Carolinas balancing area
- 3rd of 441
- Plants run by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
- 3rd of 45
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuclear | 1,220 MW | 1,158 MW | 1981 | Operating |
| 2 | Nuclear | 1,220 MW | 1,158 MW | 1984 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Duke Energy Carolinas
- Reliability region
- SERC Reliability Corporation
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 500 kV
- Water source
- Lake Norman
- Nearest town on record
- Huntersville
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 35.433°N, 80.949°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowans Ford | Hydroelectric | 350 MW | 0.6 mi west |
| Freemont Solar Center LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2.8 mi west |
| Lincoln Combustion | Natural gas | 2,156 MW | 4.8 mi west |
| Cornelius Delivery No 1 | Oil and petroleum | 2.2 MW | 6.2 mi northeast |
| Mountain Island | Hydroelectric | 60 MW | 7.2 mi south |
| Huntersville Delivery No 2 | Oil and petroleum | 2.2 MW | 7.4 mi southeast |
| Mariposa Solar Center LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 8.8 mi southwest |
| Reventure Park | Biomass and waste | 3.5 MW | 10.0 mi south |