Meta’s Illinois Data Centers to Run on Nuclear Power Under New 20-Year Deal with Constellation

Meta just made a massive move that could reshape the future of AI and it's being powered by nuclear energy.

The tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp has signed a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase clean nuclear power. The deal will supply electricity to Meta's expanding network of data centers, especially those focused on artificial intelligence (AI) development. The power will come from the Quad Cities nuclear plant in Cordova, Illinois.

This isn't just a long-term contract it's a strategic shift. AI systems like Meta's Llama language models, plus the infrastructure needed to train and deploy them, consume enormous amounts of electricity. As Meta scales up its AI operations, its energy demands are growing just as fast.

To meet this demand sustainably, Meta is choosing nuclear power, a zero-carbon, reliable energy source that operates 24/7. Unlike wind or solar, nuclear doesn't rely on weather conditions, which makes it especially attractive for mission-critical, always-on infrastructure like data centers.

Meta has committed to running its global operations on 100% renewable or carbon-free energy. This deal reinforces that promise while also ensuring energy stability, consistency, and scalability for the company's future AI ambitions.

Constellation Energy, the company supplying the nuclear power, saw its stock jump more than 10% after the announcement. Investors clearly see the deal as a strong signal that nuclear power is gaining momentum not just in energy circles, but in the tech world too. With other AI-driven companies also facing mounting electricity needs, Meta may have just opened the floodgates for similar long-term clean energy contracts.

The choice of nuclear isn't just about sustainability. It's also a hedge against future energy shortages and price volatility. With this deal, Meta locks in a steady, carbon-free power source for two decades a rare level of certainty in a volatile energy landscape.

This partnership reflects a larger trend: the convergence of big tech and big energy. As AI continues to reshape industries, the infrastructure behind it needs to evolve too. And increasingly, that means finding power sources that are both clean and dependable.

Meta's nuclear power deal is more than just a headline it's a blueprint for how companies can grow their AI capabilities without compromising on climate goals. It signals that the future of tech will depend not just on breakthroughs in code, but on bold moves in energy strategy.?

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