Meta has signed a landmark agreement with US utility Constellation Energy to extend operations at the Clinton Clean Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Illinois, for an additional 20 years. This marks Meta’s first direct deal involving nuclear energy, as major tech firms increasingly seek stable, carbon-free power sources to meet the surging electricity demands of data centres and artificial intelligence.
The Clinton plant, which has operated since 1987, currently generates 1,121 megawatts—enough to power approximately 800,000 American homes. Under the new agreement, Meta will provide financial support to aid in relicensing and operations once Illinois’ current zero-emissions credit subsidy expires in 2027. The deal also paves the way for a 30MW expansion of the facility.
Constellation applied last year to renew Clinton’s operating licence through 2047. The financial terms of Meta’s power purchase agreement have not been disclosed.
The move reflects a broader trend among tech giants turning to nuclear energy to secure long-term, emissions-free electricity. Google has partnered with a California utility to power data centres via small modular reactors, while Microsoft’s energy deal aims to revive the long-dormant Three Mile Island plant.
Urvi Parekh, Meta’s global head of energy, emphasised the need for operational certainty, saying utilities “want to have certainty that power plants operating today will continue to operate.”
Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez added that the company is in discussions with other tech clients across the US about replicating Meta’s model to sustain and expand nuclear infrastructure.
The agreement may serve as a blueprint for how technology companies can underwrite the future of existing nuclear energy, as they also explore new clean power options.
