Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant is a nuclear plant in Rhea County, Tennessee, operated by Tennessee Valley Authority. By nameplate capacity it is the 28th-largest power plant in the United States and the second-largest in Tennessee. Among the 56 nuclear plants in the country it is the eighth-largest. Its biggest unit, rated at 1,270 MW, is the second-largest single generator in Tennessee.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
2,540 MW
2,245 MW net summer capacity
2 operable units
- Nuclear2,540 MW100%
Unit by unit, 1996 to 2025
operating in 2025bar height follows unit size
Unit 1 Nuclear, 1,270 MW, 1996
Unit 2 Nuclear, 1,270 MW, 2016
Among Tennessee’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Cumberland (TN)2,600 MW
- 2Watts Bar Nuclear Plantthis plant
- 3Sequoyah2,441 MW
- 4Gallatin (TN)1,918 MW
Other rankings
- Nuclear plants in Tennessee
- 1st of 2
- Plants in the Tennessee Valley Authority balancing area
- 3rd of 152
- Plants run by Tennessee Valley Authority
- 3rd of 53
Operable units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuclear | 1,270 MW | 1,123 MW | 1996 | Operating |
| 2 | Nuclear | 1,270 MW | 1,122 MW | 2016 | Operating |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- Reliability region
- SERC Reliability Corporation
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 500 kV
- Water source
- Chickamauga Lake
- Nearest town on record
- Spring City
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 35.602°N, 84.790°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watts Bar Hydro | Hydroelectric | 175 MW | 1.2 mi north |
| DMAT Denso - SEAT Solar Holdings, LLC | Solar | 5.3 MW | 11.7 mi southeast |
| Kingston | Coal | 1,700 MW | 25.5 mi northeast |
| Primient Loudon Plant | Natural gas | 61.4 MW | 27.9 mi east |
| Sequoyah | Nuclear | 2,441 MW | 31.0 mi southwest |
| Fort Loudoun | Hydroelectric | 153 MW | 33.3 mi northeast |
| Melton Hill | Hydroelectric | 72 MW | 33.7 mi northeast |
| Ocoee 1 | Hydroelectric | 19 MW | 36.0 mi south |