Meta has signed a 20 – year agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase emissions – free nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. Here are the details:
Deal Overview: Starting from mid – 2027, when Illinois’ state subsidy program for the plant expires, Meta will purchase the full 1,121 – megawatt output of the Clinton facility. The deal will expand the plant’s capacity by 30 megawatts and ensure its continued operation. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Reasons for the Deal: The move is aimed at meeting the soaring energy needs driven by Meta’s artificial intelligence development and data center expansion. Meta’s electricity consumption nearly tripled between 2019 and 2023, and nuclear energy is seen as a reliable, carbon – free power source that can support the company’s growth in AI. Securing clean, reliable energy is crucial for Meta to advance its AI ambitions, as stated by Urvi Parekh, the company’s head of global energy.
Implications of the Deal: The partnership is Meta’s largest power deal to date and its first direct investment in nuclear energy. It preserves more than 1,100 local jobs and will contribute $13.5 million annually in tax revenue. The plant will continue to supply electricity to the broader grid rather than powering Meta’s data centers directly, but it still supports Meta’s goal of matching 100% of its energy use with clean power. Moreover, the deal is in line with the growing trend of tech companies turning to nuclear energy to meet the rising power demands from AI and cloud computing while maintaining net – zero targets. In March 2025, Meta joined Google, Amazon, and Microsoft in signing a pledge to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Additionally, Constellation Energy’s CEO Joe Dominguez praised Meta’s approach, and the company is even exploring the possibility of building a second reactor at the Clinton site.
This deal also comes amid a broader policy push for nuclear power in the United States. President Trump recently signed executive orders aiming to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, calling for streamlined regulatory approvals and a domestic fuel supply chain.
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