In a move signaling a revolution in technology and energy, Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) yesterday signed its first-ever long-term agreement with nuclear power company Constellation Energy. The 20-year deal, valued at billions of dollars, will supply Meta with all the nuclear output from the Clinton Power Station in Illinois starting June 2027.

This is Meta’s first and most significant nuclear step, joining the relentless race among tech giants to secure clean and stable energy sources for the long term. The agreement comes at a time when the tech industry faces an unprecedented challenge: the explosive growth in electricity consumption by artificial intelligence infrastructures.

Details of the Historic Deal

Under the new agreement, Meta will purchase about 1.1 gigawatts of clean energy from the nuclear plant in Illinois — a massive amount representing the entire output of the site’s single nuclear reactor. To put this in perspective, this amount is enough to power approximately one million average American homes. The deal also includes a significant expansion of the plant’s capacity by an additional 30 megawatts, an investment that will strengthen the station’s production capabilities for decades to come. Although the financial terms were not publicly disclosed, industry experts estimate the deal’s worth in the billions.

The move comes at a critical time for the Clinton power station, which was facing potential closure without Meta’s commitment. The plant, established in 1987 and operating a sophisticated Pressurized Water Reactor, would have permanently shut down without this new support and license renewal—representing a major loss for America’s clean energy infrastructure.

Saving the plant from closure is a key part of the equation. Constellation will now invest in upgrading and renovating the facility, including installing advanced monitoring and safety technologies, as well as implementing new maintenance protocols to ensure efficient and safe operation for many decades.

Dramatic Market Impact

The announcement sent shockwaves through the stock market. Constellation’s shares surged more than 15% immediately after the news, reflecting investors’ optimism about the new trend of tech giants turning to nuclear energy.

The Nuclear Race Among Tech Giants

Meta is not alone in this race. In recent months, we have seen a wave of similar deals between tech giants and the nuclear power industry:

Microsoft started in September with the restart of Three Mile Island—the site known for America’s worst nuclear accident—as part of a 20-year agreement.

Google committed to funding the development of three new nuclear power sites after partnering with Kairos Power, a developer of advanced small modular reactors.

Amazon invested over $500 million in developing small modular reactors and purchased a data center campus powered directly by a nuclear power station.

The Urgent Need for AI Power

The primary driver behind this move is the explosive growth in electricity consumption by AI infrastructure. Data centers running advanced AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Meta’s own AI systems consume enormous amounts of electricity — 10 to 50 times more than typical data centers. Consulting firm McKinsey estimates that U.S. data center power consumption will jump from 4% of total usage today to 11-12% by 2030.

Meta, which operates around 21 data centers worldwide and plans to add many more, understands it needs a stable, clean energy solution for the long term. Unlike solar and wind energy, which depend on weather conditions, nuclear power provides continuous 24/7 electricity with zero carbon emissions.

“Securing clean, reliable energy is essential to advance our AI ambitions,” explained Orbi Park, Meta’s Global Head of Energy. The company views the Clinton plant as a critical component in strengthening American leadership in energy, especially amid growing competition with China in nuclear energy and AI.

Interestingly, the electricity from the plant will not flow directly to Meta’s data centers but into the regional power grid. This allows Meta to earn clean energy credits as part of its sustainability goals—aiming for 100% clean electricity by 2030.

New Government Support

The timing of the deal is perfect. Recently, President Donald Trump signed four executive orders to accelerate nuclear energy deployment in the U.S., setting a goal to quadruple nuclear energy output by 2050.

The orders call for revamping the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, building a domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel, and speeding regulatory approvals for new reactors, including small modular reactors.

Future Plans and the Big Vision

The deal with Constellation is just the beginning of Meta’s aggressive nuclear path. In December, the company issued a request for proposals to find additional nuclear energy developers, declaring its intent to add between 1 and 4 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in the U.S.—enough to power 4 million homes. The focus is on advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), which promise greater flexibility and lower costs.

Constellation is also considering applying for a new license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a small modular reactor at the Clinton site. These reactors, still under development, promise to revolutionize the nuclear industry with shorter construction times, lower costs, and higher safety levels.

Meta is also contemplating investments in fusion technologies—the next generation of nuclear energy that could be commercially viable in the 2030s. The company understands that investing in these technologies now will secure a significant competitive advantage in the future.