Meta inks 20-year nuclear energy deal for AI

Meta has inked a deal to keep an Illinois nuclear power plant running for the next 20 years so it can power its artificial intelligence and data center ambitions.

The deal sees the tech giant purchasing 1.1 gigawatts of power from nuclear power provider Constellation from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in southern Illinois starting in 2027, Meta said on June 3.

“As we look toward our future energy needs in advancing AI, we recognize the immense value of nuclear power in providing reliable, firm electricity,” Meta added.

Meta, like other tech giants, is heavily leaning into AI amid the continuing hype around the tech and has embedded its own AI models into its flagship social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. It also plans to fully automate ad creation on those platforms by the end of 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported on June 2.

Currently, AI technology requires vast amounts of energy that is in high demand. The International Energy Agency reported in April that the power demands of AI data centers are projected to more than double by 2030 to eat up “slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan today.”

Meta said the agreement ensures a “critical plant will stay online” and meet growing energy needs while adding 30 megawatts of incremental capacity to the grid.

Meta added that its partnership with Constellation would preserve over 1,100 jobs and contribute $13.5 million annually in tax revenue without tapping into the state’s Zero Emission Credit program — maintaining operations without additional ratepayer support.

Several Illinois lawmakers were pleased to hear about the deal, including Republican Regan Deering, who said it was a “forward-thinking investment” that would boost the local economy.

Clinton almost closed in 2017

The Clinton nuclear facility was set to close in 2017 after several years of financial losses despite being one of the best-performing nuclear plants in the state, Constellation noted in its June 3 statement.

However, it was saved by the enactment of Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act, which established the Zero Emission Credit program to support the plant through to mid-2027.

Constellation’s agreement with Meta means that the Clinton plant can operate without taxpayer support.

An analysis from consulting firm Brattle Group in March found that shuttering Clinton would raise emissions by more than 34 million metric tons of carbon over 20 years — equivalent to putting around 7.4 million gasoline-powered cars on the road for a year.

Brattle also estimated that Illinois’ gross domestic product would drop $765 million annually if the Clinton facility were to cease operations.

Meta said it is also making progress on requests for proposals to identify other nuclear energy operators to help the firm meet its AI innovation and sustainability goals.

“[We] are in final discussions with a shortlist of potential projects to meet our 1-4 gigawatt target,” Meta said after announcing the initiative last December.

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