Meta will power its artificial intelligence ambitions with nuclear energy. The company has announced a 20-year agreement with Constellation. This deal supports and expands Illinois’ Clinton Clean Energy Center. It is Meta’s first direct nuclear power purchase agreement. The PPA will commence in June 2027, according to Constellation’s announcement.
This partnership aims to provide carbon-free energy for Meta’s data centers. It also helps Meta meet its 2030 net-zero emissions goal, as detailed on its Tech Blog. The Clinton plant, first licensed in 1987, faced closure in 2017 and again in 2027. A state tax credit, part of the Zero Emission Credit (ZEC) program, allowed operations until mid-2027, when the ZEC program expires.
Meta’s investment is crucial for its relicensing. While Meta is purchasing “clean energy attributes,” some observers think the real-world climate benefits of such certificates can be overstated.
Meta’s move highlights a broader Big Tech trend. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are increasingly eyeing nuclear power. This shift addresses the massive energy demands of AI and cloud computing. Meta’s own carbon footprint has grown strongly since 2019 due to AI.
The deal is one more of many recent partnerships between Big Tech companies and the nuclear energy industry. Meta confirmed the nuclear energy will support its regional operations and that its RFP for 1 to 4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity is in “final discussions.”
AI’s Insatiable Energy Appetite Drives Nuclear Interest
The tech industry’s pivot to nuclear is a direct response to AI’s staggering power needs. Data centers could consume 8% of U.S. electricity by 2030, Goldman Sachs projects. This demand strains global power grids. A single large data center can also use 3 to 5 million gallons of water daily. Virginia Tech research indicates data centers are among the top 10 U.S. commercial water consumers.
Microsoft is exploring reviving the dormant Three Mile Island plant, and has been building its nuclear team since September 2023. Amazon Web Services (AWS) committed $650 million for a data center powered by the Susquehanna Nuclear plant, and has been investing $500 million in small modular reactors (SMRs).
AWS CEO Matthew Garman stated last October, “We’re going to need gigawatts of power in the coming years, and wind and solar just aren’t going to be enough.” Google also faces rising AI energy demands, and recently partnered with Kairos Power for 7 SMRs. Even Oracle is designing a data center needing over 1,000 MWe from SMRs.
Clinton Plant Revival and Broader Nuclear Commitments
The Meta-Constellation deal will boost the Clinton plant’s output by 30 megawatts (MW). Its total capacity will reach 1,121MW. The agreement is expected to save 1,100 local jobs. It will also generate $13.5 million in annual tax revenue for the Illinois community. Constellation will also invest $1 million over five years in local workforce development and social services.
This is Constellation’s second major data center PPA, the first was with Microsoft for the revived Three Mile Island facility. Constellation is also considering developing an advanced nuclear reactor or SMR at the Clinton site, a move that could further expand its clean energy output.
Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy, said about the project, “Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions.” She added that Meta is “proud to help keep the Clinton plant operating for years to come,” a commitment she indicated also strengthens American leadership in energy. Public support for nuclear energy is also growing, with a recent Gallup poll showing 61% of U.S. adults in favor, up from 55% in 2023.
The Future of Nuclear: Fusion and Advanced Reactors
Beyond existing plants, Big Tech is investing in next-generation nuclear technologies. SMRs are a key focus, offering smaller, adaptable designs. The first advanced SMR design gained U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval in 2023. Microsoft anticipates a 10 to 15-year deployment timeline for SMRs for its datacenters.
Nuclear fusion, the energy source of stars, represents a longer-term goal. Helion Energy, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, secured $425 million in January and aims for a commercial fusion plant by 2028. Microsoft has a deal for 50MW from this proposed plant.
Sam Altman, reportedly also explored a separate Helion deal for its Stargate supercomputer, a project needing an estimated 5 gigawatts (GW). However, achieving net energy gain remains a major hurdle for fusion, with experts suggesting commercial viability is unlikely before 2030-2035. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts that 85-90 GW of new nuclear would be needed for data center demand growth by 2030, but expects less than 10% will be available globally.
