Energy Firms Try to Squeeze More Power Out of Old Nuclear Plants NYT - Technology By: Brad Plumer and Rebecca F. Elliott 6 October 2026 at 19:37 It takes a long time to build new nuclear plants. So, some U.S. companies are looking to get more electricity out of reactors that already exist. Β© Scott Olson/Getty ImagesConstellation Energy, the nationβs largest nuclear power plant operator, said it would spend more than $4.3 billion to refurbish 11 reactors at six plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.