Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced a landmark 20-year agreement with US-based Constellation Energy to source nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois.
This strategic move marks Meta’s latest effort to meet the soaring electricity demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The deal, unveiled Tuesday, involves an undisclosed investment from Meta that will replace state government subsidies to ensure the continued operation of the nuclear plant starting in 2027.
Meta will effectively purchase the facility’s entire electric output—1,121 megawatts—supporting its regional operations while adding an extra 30 megawatts of capacity to the local grid.
“As we plan for the future energy needs required to advance AI, we recognize nuclear power’s critical role in delivering reliable and steady electricity,” Meta stated.
This initiative reflects a broader industry trend as leading tech giants—including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon—turn to nuclear energy to power their increasingly energy-intensive data centers.
Nuclear power offers a stable, carbon-free alternative that aligns with corporate climate goals while supporting exponential growth in AI-related electricity consumption.
The International Energy Agency forecasts that electricity use by data centers will more than double by 2030, underscoring the urgent need for dependable, sustainable energy sources to keep pace with rapid AI adoption.
Meta’s commitment signals a significant step forward in integrating clean nuclear energy into the digital economy, setting a precedent for sustainable tech infrastructure amid the AI revolution.
