Meta Signs 20-year Nuclear Deal with Constellation Energy to Meet Growing AI Power Demands

Meta has signed a 20-year agreement with a nuclear power provider to power its growing artificial intelligence (AI) operations. According to Yahoo Finance, Meta has partnered with Constellation Energy to buy all the electricity generated by the Clinton Clean Energy Center, a nuclear power plant located in Illinois. This plant will provide 1,121 megawatts of clean energy starting in 2027.

Meta’s new deal is part of its long-term plan to make sure it has enough clean and reliable power. The company is working toward its goal of running 100% of its operations on clean energy.

A Big Step Toward Meta’s Sustainable Operations Plan

Meta’s 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Constellation Energy is a big step in its sustainability journey. The Clinton Clean Energy Center will supply enough electricity to power over 800,000 homes. The deal also includes plans to increase the plant’s output by 30 megawatts through upgrades approved by regulators.

Meta is focusing on reliable and clean energy sources because AI and cloud services need power around the clock. Unlike solar and wind energy, which can be affected by weather and time of day, nuclear energy provides a constant power supply. This makes it perfect for data centers that must run 24/7 without interruptions.

Urvi Parekh, Meta’s Head of Global Energy, said, “Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions.” She added that this nuclear power deal will play a key role in helping Meta reach its clean energy goals.

Meta’s long-term nuclear power agreement will help the Clinton plant to continue operating beyond 2027. This means that over 530 jobs at the plant will be saved, and the local economy will keep receiving over $13 million a year in tax revenue.

Joe Dominguez, CEO of Constellation Energy, said, “Partnerships like this one are critical to keeping our most valuable and clean energy resources running.” He also mentioned that this kind of deal helps secure jobs and supports clean energy growth across the country.

A Growing Trend Among Tech Giants

Meta is not the only technology company turning to nuclear power. Last year, Microsoft also signed a similar 20-year deal with Constellation Energy for the entire power output of its Crane Clean Energy Center in Maryland. That plant had previously been shut down in 2019 but is now being restarted, with power expected to flow again by 2028.

These large tech companies are willing to pay premium prices for nuclear energy because their AI and cloud services require massive amounts of always-on power. This is pushing energy providers like Constellation to bring more nuclear power plants back online and even invest in upgrades.

Constellation Energy expects strong growth in the coming years. The company predicts it will increase its adjusted operating earnings by over 13% each year through 2030. This outlook doesn’t even include the impact of its possible acquisition of Calpine, a big name in natural gas and geothermal energy production. That deal could boost earnings even further and open new opportunities for tech companies.

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, live, and solve problems. But to power this revolution, tech companies need massive amounts of reliable and clean electricity. Meta’s nuclear power agreement is an example of how big businesses are planning to meet these needs.

With this deal, Meta ensures its AI systems will have steady, carbon-free power for decades. At the same time, energy companies like Constellation benefit by getting long-term customers and reviving important power plants.