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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.

Tax Dollars and Terawatts

In addition to keeping the plant humming until 2047, Constellation plans a 30-megawatt power boost through nuclear uprates, adding an estimated $13.5 million in annual tax revenue to the local economy.

But the ambitions don’t end there. The company is exploring whether to extend the plant’s existing early site permit or pursue a new construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission—laying groundwork for advanced nuclear or small modular reactors at the same site.

Meta Bets on Nuclear to Power AI’s Demands

Meta, which has already made major strides in renewable investments, called the Clinton deal a “landmark agreement.” The tech behemoth is increasingly eyeing nuclear power as the backbone of its long-term energy strategy.

“Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy. “This is a model for how we scale both sustainability and innovation.”

Meta was represented in negotiations by Jeremy Weinstein of the Law Offices of Jeremy Weinstein. Legal counsel for Constellation was not immediately disclosed.