Meta, the corporate parent of Facebook and Instagram, has entered into a 20-year contract to buy nuclear energy for its expanding AI and computing demands. The Tuesday announcement brings Meta together with Constellation Energy and will increase operations at the Clinton Clean Energy Centre in Illinois.
The plant, previously on the verge of shutting down, will see new life as it is set to fulfil the gigantic energy needs of AI infrastructure. Beginning in June 2027, after the expiration of Illinois’ zero-emission credit programme, the new agreement becomes fully effective.
AI is Driving the Shift
Meta’s action is part of a broader trend in the tech giant sector. The firms are competing to secure clean, reliable energy supplies to fuel artificial intelligence’s growth explosion. As AI models become increasingly complex, their power requirements shoot up.
Nuclear energy, with its steady output and zero emissions, is a leading contender.
“Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy.
Boost to Local Economy and Energy Grid
The partnership brings tangible benefits to the Illinois community. The deal will increase the Clinton plant’s output by 30 megawatts—enough to power a city of 30,000 people for a year. It will also preserve 1,100 jobs and generate $13.5 million in annual tax revenue.
The plant now supplies the energy equivalent of 800,000 American homes. With the fresh investment, its contribution to the grid and local economy will only increase.
From Near Shutdown to AI Powerhouse
The Clinton Clean Energy Centre was once slated for closure. Decades of money losses had almost guaranteed its fate in 2017. But state legislation that put in place a zero-emission credit programme saved it until 2027.
Now, Meta’s agreement guarantees the plant’s long-term viability without calling on taxpayer assistance.
George Gross, a University of Illinois professor, highlighted the importance of the expansion. “Thirty megawatts is no modest increase—it’s a big victory for clean energy and for the local community,” he said.
The Big Picture
Meta‘s nuclear agreement spotlights an emerging fact: as artificial intelligence expands, so must the availability of sustainable power. Technology giants such as Meta are no longer mere software firms—they are, increasingly, energy players.
And the future of AI might just be atomic.
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