Meta has signed a significant agreement to ensure the continued operation of a nuclear power plant in Illinois for the next 20 years to support its strategic development of AI and data centers.
According to information released by Meta on June 3, the tech giant will purchase 1.1 gigawatts of power from Constellation's Clinton Clean Energy Center located in southern Illinois starting in 2027.
"In planning for the energy demands required to advance AI in the future, we fully recognize the immense value of nuclear energy in providing reliable and stable power," Meta emphasized.
Like other tech giants, Meta is fully investing in the AI field to keep pace with this ongoing technological trend and has integrated its self-developed AI models into its flagship social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram. According to a Wall Street Journal report on June 2, Meta also plans to achieve full automation of ad creation on these platforms by the end of 2025.
Currently, the energy demand for AI technology is facing a high demand situation. The International Energy Agency reported in April that by 2030, the power demand of AI data centers is expected to more than double, "slightly exceeding the total national power consumption of Japan today."
Meta stated that the agreement ensures "this critical power plant will continue to operate," meeting the rising energy demand while adding 30 megawatts of incremental capacity to the grid.
Meta further noted that its collaboration with Constellation will secure over 1,100 jobs and contribute $13.5 million in taxes annually, without relying on the state's zero-emission credit program—achieving operation without additional taxpayer support.
Several Illinois politicians, including Republican lawmaker Regan Deering, welcomed the agreement, calling it a "forward-looking investment" that will effectively promote local economic development.
Constellation noted in an official statement on June 3 that although the Clinton nuclear facility is one of the best-performing nuclear power plants in the state, it was originally scheduled to close in 2017 after several years of financial losses.
However, the timely introduction of Illinois' Future Energy Jobs Act saved the plant, establishing a zero-emission credit program that supports the plant's operation until mid-2027.
The agreement between Constellation and Meta means that the Clinton plant can continue to operate without taxpayer support.
An analysis released by consulting firm Brattle Group in March showed that closing the Clinton plant would increase carbon emissions by more than 34 million metric tons over 20 years—equivalent to the emissions from approximately 7.4 million gasoline-powered cars on the road for a year.
Brattle also assessed that if the Clinton facility ceases operations, Illinois' gross domestic product would decline by $765 million annually.
Meta stated that the company is actively advancing a proposal solicitation process to identify more nuclear energy operators to jointly support AI innovation and sustainability goals.
"We are in final negotiations with shortlisted potential project partners to achieve our 1-4 gigawatt target," Meta said after announcing the plan last December.
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Original: “Meta Signs 20-Year Nuclear Energy Agreement to Power Artificial Intelligence (AI)”
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