Why build a whole new nuclear power plant when you’ve got a perfectly good one already running?
That’s the motivation behind a deal between data giant Meta and energy utility Constellation. This week, Meta agreed to a 20-year power purchase agreement for the entire output of the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois beginning in 2027.
- The 1,121 MW of power will support (to no one’s surprise) Meta’s AI and data center needs in the Midwest while preserving 530 jobs at the plant.
- The Clinton plant is only operating because of a zero-emission credit program established by Illinois in 2016 that keeps it funded through 2027.
- As part of the deal, Meta will support a 30 MW uprate of the single-reactor plant.
The hyperscaler history: This is Constellation’s second major deal involving an existing large-scale, light water reactor power plant and a hyperscaler in desperate need of abundant, clean, reliable power. The utility forged an agreement with Microsoft last year to reopen the shuttered Three Mile Island plant (now the Crane Clean Energy Center—probably a necessary rebrand).
“Last year, Constellation’s announced plan to restart the Crane Clean Energy Center became national news, but despite all of the interest and overwhelming support, a key question was missed: why did we let such a valuable plant close in the first place? We all know that the closure cost our community jobs, tax revenue, more pollution and higher prices,” Joe Dominguez, Constellation president and CEO, said in a release.
“We are proud to partner with Meta because they asked that important question, and even better, they figured out that supporting the relicensing and expansion of existing plants is just as impactful as finding new sources of energy,” Dominguez added. “Sometimes the most important part of our journey forward is to stop taking steps backwards.”
Expansion plans: Though Meta will be the sole beneficiary of the plant’s power output beginning in 2027, Constellation views the deal as an opportunity to grow. The Clinton plant has an existing early site permit from the NRC that could be extended in pursuit of an SMR or advanced reactor.
On Meta’s side…There are more nuclear projects in the works. Besides the deal with Constellation, Meta is reviewing 50+ qualified proposals from the advanced nuclear industry for projects that could help the company achieve its 1–4 GW nuclear power generation target.
+ Market check: Constellation ($CEG) saw an 8% spike in price after the partnership was announced on Tuesday morning, but the share price has since fallen back to its pre-announcement level.
Lead Reporter of Ignition
