Washington: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has inked a 20-year agreement to purchase nuclear power from Constellation Energy’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois.
The deal aims to meet the skyrocketing energy demands of Meta’s expanding artificial intelligence (AI) operations and data centers. The Clinton plant, which was originally slated for closure in 2017 due to financial losses, was preserved through Illinois’ zero-emission credit program supporting clean energy production until June 2027.
Meta’s contract begins immediately after the program expires, expanding the plant’s output by 30 megawatts. The move will also protect 1,100 local jobs and generate $13.5 million annually in tax revenue.
“Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy. Meta’s deal is part of a broader industry trend where tech giants turn to nuclear power to balance increasing electricity needs with sustainability goals. With AI workloads surging, data centers require massive amounts of energy, prompting companies to seek dependable, low-carbon sources.
We’ve signed an agreement with @Meta for the emissions-free output of Clinton Clean Energy Center. Deal supports Meta’s clean energy goals and operations in the region while enabling us to relicense and continue operating Clinton for another 20 years. 1/3 https://t.co/VQnTVnl1jp
— Constellation (@ConstellationEG) June 3, 2025
Constellation Energy also owns the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. The company plans to restart this reactor to provide power for Microsoft’s data centers, signaling growing tech reliance on nuclear energy.
Last year, Amazon and Google announced investments in small nuclear reactors, while Google recently invested in three advanced nuclear projects through Elemental Power.
States across the US are actively passing legislation to support nuclear energy, with over 200 bills introduced this year to ease regulations and expand clean power.
Despite strong support, experts note the US faces challenges in rapidly expanding nuclear capacity. The country lacks commercial next-generation reactors, and recent large projects have faced delays and massive cost overruns.
Alongside nuclear, tech firms continue to invest heavily in solar and wind energy, aiming to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets.
