Meta—the parent of Facebook and Instagram—has signed a 20-year agreement to buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy’s Illinois facility starting in June 2027. The deal is the first of its kind in the US. Its financial details were not disclosed.
The move follows a growing trend among tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which are partnering with energy companies to secure reliable, low-carbon electricity for their data centers and AI initiatives. Artificial intelligence systems demand large amounts of energy, much of which currently comes from fossil fuels contributing to climate change. Nuclear power accounts for roughly 19% of US electricity generation. Under the deal, Meta will purchase the full output—roughly 1.1 gigawatts—of electricity generated by the Illinois plant’s single nuclear reactor. The power will feed into the regional grid rather than directly to Meta’s facilities. The deal will expand the plant’s clean energy output by 30 megawatts, preserve around 1,100 local jobs, and generate $13.5M in annual tax revenue.