Meta has entered a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to keep the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois operational, securing 1,121 megawatts of emissions-free nuclear energy to meet the rising power demands of its AI infrastructure.

Originally scheduled to retire in 2027 due to expiring subsidies under Illinois' Future Energy Jobs Act, the plant will now continue operating thanks to Meta's backing. Built in 1987, the facility supports over 1,100 local jobs and contributes approximately $13.5 million in annual tax revenue.

Meta emphasized that maintaining the plant's operations avoids the significant carbon emissions and economic losses that would result from early closure. A March 2025 study by The Brattle Group estimated that shuttering Clinton would lead to an additional 34 million metric tons of COâ‚‚ emissions over 20 years--the equivalent of putting 7.4 million gas-powered cars on the road for one year--and reduce Illinois' GDP by $765 million annually.

Joe Dominguez, CEO of Constellation, said:
"We are proud to partner with Meta because they asked that important question, and even better, they figured out that supporting the relicensing and expansion of existing plants is just as impactful as finding new sources of energy."

This deal marks Clinton as one of only two U.S. nuclear plants this century to secure such long-term investment, following the 2023 completion of Plant Vogtle in Georgia.

Meta noted that sustaining existing nuclear plants plays a crucial role in grid reliability as energy demand grows, especially for power-intensive applications like AI.

Source: msn.com