Constellation Energy has agreed to sell energy from a nuclear plant in Illinois, USA, to the goal as artificial intelligence drives the demand for electricity.
Facebook controlling company, Instagram and WhatsApp signed a 20-year contract to buy 1,121 Usina Clinton megawatts from mid-2027, when a state subsidy expires, according to a statement issued on Tuesday (3).
Constellation, the largest nuclear operator in the US, and the goal did not disclose financial details. Under the agreement, Constellation will invest in increasing the clinton plant capacity and evaluates plans to build a new reactor on site, which already has federal approval for a second unit.
“It’s a logical place to talk to the goal and others about the construction of the next generation of assets,” said constellation CEO Joe Dominguez.
Nuclear energy has stood out as one of the largest beneficiaries of increased electric demand driven by AI. Although the technology sector also uses solar and wind energy, the intermittent nature of these sources makes the stable electricity generated by nuclear plants – in addition to coal and natural gas – is very demanded. Atomic energy still has the advantage of not emitting pollutants that heat the planet.
The goal is hiring more energy after almost triple its total electricity consumption between 2019 and 2023. The agreement with the Clinton plant occurs eight months after Microsoft also has a contract to buy power from the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania. Amazon and Google invest in small nuclear power plants, and Sam Altman, former president of Oklo, a nuclear company, left office to facilitate business with OpenAi.
Continues after advertising
Read more:
Constellation shares rose up to 9.1% on Tuesday, while others related to nuclear energy were also discharged: Vistra advanced up to 5.1% and oklo up to 12%. The goal even rose 0.7%, but then lost the initial gains.
Although the energy bills of technology giants represent only a fraction of industry costs, their huge demand drives the growth of energy consumption – not only for nuclear operators, but for all sources, including natural gas.
Continues after advertising
Companies’ environmental reports point to a general increase in consumption, with Microsoft emissions growing 30% and Google’s almost 50% from previous years. Executives in the sector warn that, without advances in energy technologies, the world will not have enough offer to support AI growth.
Despite the interest in new reactors, energy producers are cautious after delays and budget overflows in recent projects such as Vogtle in Georgia.
A large technology client could encourage Constellation to advance with a new reactor, said Dominguez, who raises from small developing reactors to the great AP1000 model.
Continues after advertising
The deal with the goal represents a turnaround for the Clinton plant, which has the capacity to supply about 1 million homes. In 2017, the then Exelon owner threatened to close the scene due to cheap and renewable gas competition, but changed course after approval of 10 -year state subsidy.
Constellation has other plants in Illinois with subsidies close to the end, and Dominguez negotiates similar contracts with several clients, expecting to close agreements over the next six to 12 months.
According to Urvi Parekh, Global Chief of Energy of the Goal, this is the company’s largest energy contract to this day. The goal is increasingly interested in nuclear energy for its operations and in December announced for proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of new reactors in the US. So far, he has received about 50 proposals, including from Constellation.
Continues after advertising
This initiative aims to bring energy to the network in the early 2030s, while the agreement with Clinton is a short -term solution. With the end of subsidies, Meta and Constellation want to ensure the competitiveness of the plant.
“It was not clear who would buy electricity from this plant,” said Parekh. “We want to ensure that this place continues to operate with nuclear energy and that constellation can be creatively thinking about expanding capacity in the future.”
© 2025 Bloomberg L.P.
