In a bold move blending cutting-edge tech with old-school atomic energy, Meta has inked a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase nuclear power from Illinois’ Clinton Clean Energy Center, the companies revealed Tuesday.
The power purchase agreement will provide the social media giant—parent company of Facebook—with 1.1 gigawatts of zero-emission energy, directly supporting Meta’s rapidly expanding AI infrastructure in the region. The deal kicks in by June 2027, with the plant’s output feeding both the grid and Meta’s clean energy ambitions.
While financial details remain under wraps, the impact of the agreement is already reverberating through the energy and tech sectors.
Breathing Life Into an Atomic Veteran
Constellation’s Clinton facility was once on the brink of closure. In 2017, following years of financial hemorrhaging, the plant was saved by a legislative lifeline: a zero-emission credit program designed to keep clean power flowing without burdening the environment.
Now, Meta’s investment becomes the new engine keeping the plant online—without any subsidies from Illinois taxpayers.
“This agreement doesn’t just sustain a power plant—it preserves livelihoods, slashes pollution, and holds down energy prices,” said Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez. “Meta understands that maintaining and modernizing existing nuclear plants is just as vital as exploring new energy sources.”
The Clinton site employs over 500 people and produces enough carbon-free energy to power more than 800,000 homes.
