Meta has entered into a 20-year agreement to supply nuclear energy, aiming to meet the rising demand for power driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and other computing needs.
This deal will also expand the output of the Constellation Energy Illinois nuclear plant, specifically the Clinton Clean Energy Center.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, is part of a broader trend among major tech companies turning to nuclear energy to power their data centers and AI operations.
While financial terms remain undisclosed, the deal will take effect in June 2027, coinciding with the expiration of Illinois’s zero-emission credit program that has supported the plant since its near-closure in 2017.
Under the deal, Clinton’s clean energy output will increase by 30 megawatts—enough to power roughly 30,000 residents for a year, according to experts—preserving 1,100 local jobs and generating approximately $13.5 million annually in tax revenue. Currently, the plant supplies electricity equivalent to about 800,000 U.S. homes.
Urvi Parekh, Meta’s Head of Global Energy, emphasized the importance of reliable, clean energy for advancing AI ambitions: “Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions,” she stated.
The broader context highlights a surge in investments by tech giants in nuclear energy. Notably, Microsoft has plans to restart the Three Mile Island reactor, while Amazon and Google have invested in small nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear projects. These efforts aim to address two key challenges: increasing energy supply for data-intensive AI operations and meeting long-term climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite these developments, the U.S. faces challenges in rapidly scaling nuclear power. The industry has seen limited new large reactors in recent decades, with only two reactors built from scratch in nearly 50 years—both in Georgia, and both over budget and behind schedule. Experts like Professor George Gross caution that expanding the transmission grid and investing in new technologies are crucial to realizing the full potential of nuclear energy.
Meanwhile, tech companies continue to diversify their renewable energy sources, investing heavily in solar and wind projects alongside nuclear power, all aimed at supporting sustainable growth in AI and data infrastructure.
Shares of Constellation Energy remained flat on Tuesday, reflecting market uncertainty amid these industry shifts.
