365int
Meta just made a 20-year deal to buy nuclear energy for its AI and data centers.
Starting in 2027, Meta will buy 1.1 gigawatts of power from Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. That’s a ton of juice — and it’s all nuclear.
Meta wants reliable, steady power to fuel its AI push. AI eats power like a hungry robot, and nuclear fits the bill.
Meta already uses AI in Facebook and Instagram. By 2025, they want AI to fully run ad creation. That takes serious energy.
The International Energy Agency says AI data centers will use more power than Japan by 2030. Yikes.
This deal also keeps the Clinton plant alive. It was going to shut down in 2017 but got saved by the state. Now Meta’s cash is keeping it open without needing taxpayer help.
Meta’s move saves 1,100+ jobs and puts $13.5 million into local taxes each year.
Illinois lawmakers are cheering. One called it a “forward-thinking investment.”
Meta says it’s still shopping for more nuclear energy partners to hit a 4-gigawatt target. That’s enough to light up a city—and maybe teach AI to dance too.
Footing:
Gigawatt (GW): A unit of power. 1 GW can power hundreds of thousands of homes.
Zero Emission Credit: A policy that supports clean energy without pollution.
