In a surprising move that bridges tech and energy, meta has partnered with Constellation Energy to revive Illinois’ Clinton Clean Energy Center, extending the nuclear plant’s operations for 20 more years. This strategic deal not only prevents the plant’s scheduled 2027 closure but also supports Meta’s ambitious plan to power its AI data centers with clean energy while attempting to reduce its growing carbon footprint.
The Clinton plant, which began operations in 1987, had been struggling financially for years before receiving a temporary lifeline through Illinois’ carbon-free energy tax credits. Meta’s intervention now ensures the facility’s operation through 2047, with planned upgrades that will boost its output by 30 megawatts – equivalent to the entire capacity of America’s first offshore wind farm. This expansion will help maintain 1,100 local jobs while generating enough electricity for approximately 800,000 homes.
This partnership represents Meta’s first nuclear power purchase agreement, following a growing trend among tech giants turning to nuclear energy to meet their massive power demands. The deal includes acquiring “clean energy attributes” – certificates that represent carbon-free energy generation – as part of Meta’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030. However, the company’s latest sustainability report reveals its carbon footprint has actually increased since 2019, driven largely by its expanding AI operations.
The move highlights the complex balancing act facing tech companies as they pursue both AI development and environmental sustainability. While nuclear energy offers a low – carbon solution for power -hungry data centers, Meta’s simultaneous plans to build a massive new data center in Louisiana – potentially supported by new gas plants – underscore the challenges in achieving true sustainability. Other tech leaders like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are making similar nuclear investments, with Microsoft recently partnering with Constellation to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island reactor.
Looking ahead, Meta is actively exploring next-generation nuclear technology, having received over 50 proposals for projects that could add 1,000-4,000MW of new nuclear capacity by the early 2030s. Constellation is also considering developing an advanced reactor at the Clinton site, signaling potential for further innovation in nuclear energy solutions tailored for tech industry needs.
This landmark agreement demonstrates how the AI revolution is reshaping America’s energy landscape, giving aging nuclear infrastructure new purpose while raising important questions about the tech industry’s environmental impact and energy strategies moving forward.
By
