The social media giant Meta has struck a landmark 20-year deal to power its artificial intelligence ambitions with nuclear energy, marking a significant shift in how tech companies approach their growing energy demands. The agreement with Constellation Energy will supply Meta with 300 megawatts of electricity from the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in upstate New York—enough to power approximately 300,000 homes.
“This is about building sustainable infrastructure for the AI future,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated during the announcement. “Nuclear energy provides the reliable, carbon-free power source we need to train and run increasingly complex AI models.”
The deal represents one of the largest corporate investments in nuclear energy in recent history and highlights the extraordinary power requirements of artificial intelligence. Training a single large language model can consume as much electricity as 100 American households use in an entire year. With Meta, Google, Microsoft, and others racing to build increasingly sophisticated AI systems, their energy consumption is projected to double within five years.
Energy experts have welcomed the move as a potential game-changer for both the tech and energy sectors. “Nuclear power plants were facing premature closures across the country,” explains Dr. Amelia Zhang, energy policy researcher at the University of British Columbia. “Tech companies’ sudden demand for clean, reliable electricity could revitalize an industry that provides 20% of America’s electricity without carbon emissions.”
The partnership isn’t without controversy. Environmental groups remain divided, with some praising the carbon-free benefits while others express concerns about nuclear waste management and safety. Consumer advocacy organizations have questioned whether utility ratepayers might bear costs if tech giants monopolize clean energy sources.
What’s particularly notable is Meta’s deviation from the standard tech playbook. While competitors like Google and Amazon have primarily invested in wind and solar projects, Meta’s nuclear strategy acknowledges the limitations of intermittent renewable sources for power-hungry AI operations that require 24/7 reliability.
The financial terms remain largely confidential, but industry insiders estimate the deal’s value exceeds $1 billion. Constellation Energy’s stock surged 7% following the announcement, signaling investor confidence in nuclear energy’s role in the AI revolution.
Beyond the immediate business implications, this deal represents a potential turning point in America’s energy transition. Nuclear plants once scheduled for decommissioning may now find new purpose as the backbone of AI infrastructure. The Department of Energy has expressed support, with Secretary Jennifer Granholm calling the agreement “a model for how private industry can drive clean energy innovation.”
For Meta users, the impact may be invisible but significant. The company claims the deal will help it maintain reliable service across its platforms while pursuing increasingly sophisticated AI features without dramatically increasing its carbon footprint.
As Silicon Valley’s appetite for electricity continues growing exponentially, Meta’s nuclear gambit raises a pivotal question: Is this the beginning of a new symbiotic relationship between Big Tech and nuclear energy, or merely a stopgap measure until the next generation of energy technology emerges?
