Meta Chooses Nuclear Power Amid 'AI Power Shortage'... Signs Long-Term Deal with Constellation in U.S.

Meta: "Clean and Reliable Energy Needed for AI Advancement"

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook (hereafter Meta), announced on June 3 (local time) that it has signed a 20-year nuclear energy purchase agreement with Constellation Energy, the largest nuclear power plant operator in the United States.

Under this agreement, starting in June 2027, Meta will purchase approximately 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from Constellation's Clinton Clean Energy Center located in Illinois. To ensure a stable supply of this electricity, Constellation is also considering plans to construct additional reactors.

Nuclear power has recently attracted attention as a source of energy due to the rapid increase in electricity demand driven by AI. Unlike solar or wind power, it can provide a stable supply of electricity. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted, "Although new nuclear plant construction still faces barriers such as high costs and long construction periods, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to accelerate nuclear development."

Not only Meta but also other major big tech companies are actively seeking to secure nuclear energy to meet AI-related electricity demand. Microsoft (MS) announced in September last year that it had agreed to purchase electricity for 20 years from Constellation, generated by the restarted Three Mile Island nuclear plant, the site of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history.

In addition, Google recently pledged funding for the development of three new nuclear power plants and entered into a partnership last year with Kairos Power, a developer of small modular reactors (SMRs). Amazon, in March last year, acquired a data center powered by the Susquehanna nuclear plant and announced in October 2023 that it would invest more than $500 million in SMR development.

Urvi Parekh, Meta’s Global Head of Energy, stated, "Securing clean and reliable energy is essential for the advancement of AI technology." She added, "We will work with local communities to support the long-term operation of nuclear plants and expand facilities to protect more than 1,000 jobs. Furthermore, this power plant will play an important role in strengthening U.S. energy leadership."