Meta has signed a 20-year contract with Constellation Energy to purchase nuclear power, which shows the technology sector’s growing reliance on nuclear energy to meet rising data centre electricity demands. Starting in June 2027, Meta will buy about 1.1 gigawatts of electricity—the full output of Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois.
This agreement is crucial for the continued operation and relicensing of the Clinton plant, which faced closure after its zero-emissions credits expired.
“We are proud to partner with Meta.They figured out that supporting the relicensing and expansion of existing plants is just as impactful as finding new sources of energy. Sometimes the most important part of our journey forward is to stop taking steps backwards,” Joe Dominguez, Constellation’s president and CEO, said.
The electricity will feed into the regional grid and contribute to Meta’s goal of 100% clean electricity. The deal also includes plans to increase Clinton’s output by 30 megawatts, though financial terms were not disclosed.
Meta’s move follows similar agreements by other tech giants. Microsoft has partnered with Constellation to restart the Three Mile Island plant, while Google and Amazon have invested heavily in small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear-powered data centres. In March 2024, Amazon, Google, and Meta backed a World Nuclear Association pledge to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050.
Meta is also pursuing advanced nuclear projects, having requested proposals for new nuclear capacity between one and four gigawatts in the U.S.
“Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions. We are proud to help keep the Clinton plant operating for years to come and demonstrate that this plant is an important piece to strengthening American leadership in energy,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy.
U.S. policy supports nuclear expansion, with executive orders that aim to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050 and streamline regulatory approvals, especially for SMRs. Constellation plans to seek approval for an SMR at Clinton, signalling further growth. As data centres’ energy needs surge, nuclear power offers a reliable, low-carbon solution.