AI's Insatiable Thirst Drives Meta to Nuclear Power.

In a landmark move underscoring the voracious energy appetite of artificial intelligence, Meta has entered into a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to power its operations with nuclear energy from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois.[1][2][3] The deal ensures the social media giant a steady supply of carbon-free electricity to fuel its expanding AI infrastructure, while simultaneously securing the future of a critical nuclear facility that was at risk of closure.[2][4][5] This partnership highlights a growing trend among technology titans turning to nuclear power to meet the immense and unceasing electricity demands of AI development and data center operations.[6][7][8]

The agreement, which commences in June 2027, will see Meta purchase the entire 1,121-megawatt output of the Clinton nuclear plant.[2][3] This arrangement provides a market-based solution that replaces an expiring state-level Zero Emission Credit program, which had been subsidizing the plant to keep it operational.[9][4][5] Without this deal, the Clinton facility, which came online in 1987, faced potential premature closure, a fate that would have eliminated over 1,100 local jobs and significantly impacted the regional economy.[2][10] The pact not only preserves these jobs and an estimated $13.5 million in annual tax revenue but also includes plans for Constellation to invest in a 30-megawatt uprate at the plant, increasing its clean energy output.[2][3][9] For the local community, Constellation has also pledged $1 million in charitable giving over five years to support workforce development and other local initiatives.[2][4]

The turn to nuclear power is a direct consequence of the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and its underlying infrastructure.[11][12] AI models, particularly large language models like those Meta is developing, require vast computational power for both training and ongoing operation, known as inference.[13][14] This translates into enormous electricity consumption at the data centers that house the specialized servers and graphics processing units (GPUs) necessary for these tasks.[15] The International Energy Agency has warned that global electricity demand for data centers and AI could double by next year, reaching consumption levels comparable to entire countries like Japan.[16] Meta itself reported a 34 percent increase in its data center electricity consumption in 2023, a trend set to accelerate as it invests billions in AI infrastructure, including a planned data center that could require more than two gigawatts of power.[15][17]

Faced with this surging demand, technology companies are confronting the limitations and environmental impact of traditional energy sources.[11][18] While companies like Meta have committed to powering their operations with 100% renewable energy, the intermittent nature of solar and wind power presents challenges for data centers that require constant, reliable electricity 24/7.[19][11] This has often led to a continued reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, to ensure grid stability and meet round-the-clock power needs.[11][14] Nuclear energy, with its high capacity factor—operating over 92% of the time compared to around 25-35% for solar and wind—offers a source of firm, low-carbon baseload power that is uniquely suited to the demands of large-scale data centers.[19] A single nuclear reactor can generate enough electricity to power even the most demanding AI facilities, making it an attractive solution for tech companies striving to reconcile their growth with their climate commitments.[19]

The Meta-Constellation deal is a significant indicator of a broader shift in the energy strategies of the tech industry. It follows similar agreements by other major players, including Microsoft's deal to restart a reactor at the Three Mile Island facility and Amazon's and Google's investments in small modular reactors (SMRs).[3][6][7] These moves signal a growing recognition that nuclear power will be a crucial component in sustainably powering the future of AI.[8] Meta is not stopping with the Clinton plant; the company is actively pursuing proposals for an additional one to four gigawatts of new nuclear capacity across the United States.[1][9][4] By creating a strong demand signal, these tech giants are encouraging both the continued operation of existing nuclear plants and the development of new, advanced reactor technologies.[1] This burgeoning partnership between Big Tech and the nuclear industry is set to reshape the energy landscape, driving investment and innovation in a power source seen as essential for fueling the next technological revolution without exacerbating climate change.[20]