By Michael Phillips | TechBay.News
Meta Platforms’ race to dominate artificial intelligence just triggered one of the most consequential energy pivots in modern tech history.
On Thursday, Meta Platforms announced a sweeping series of long-term nuclear power agreements designed to fuel its rapidly expanding AI infrastructure—particularly its massive Prometheus AI supercluster in Ohio. The deals could secure up to 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of reliable, carbon-free electricity by the mid-2030s, making Meta one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy ever.
For perspective, that’s roughly enough power to supply five million homes—or more than the entire electricity demand of some U.S. states.
This isn’t about symbolism or climate marketing. It’s about survival in the AI arms race.
Why Meta Is Turning to Nuclear
AI systems don’t sleep. Training large language models, running recommendation engines, and powering immersive platforms demand 24/7 “firm” electricity—something intermittent renewables alone can’t guarantee.
U.S. electricity demand is now projected to rise 30% or more by 2030, driven largely by data centers. Tech giants face a stark choice: throttle AI growth or lock in dependable baseload power.
Nuclear wins on reliability, scale, and emissions.
Meta’s head of global energy, Urvi Parekh, said there is “no single solution” to the energy crunch—but nuclear is the backbone that makes everything else possible.
The Deals: Old Reactors and New Technology
Meta’s strategy blends immediate power from existing plants with long-term bets on next-generation reactors.
Vistra: Keeping Today’s Plants Running
Meta signed 20-year power purchase agreements with Vistra Corp., covering more than 2.1 GW from operating nuclear facilities, plus roughly 430 MW from planned upgrades.
Key sites include:
- Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in Ohio
- Beaver Valley nuclear plant in Pennsylvania
These agreements extend plant lifespans, prevent shutdowns, and inject new capacity into the PJM grid starting as early as late 2026.
Oklo: Small Modular Reactors for the AI Age
Meta is backing Oklo Inc., a startup supported by Sam Altman, to develop a 1.2-GW advanced nuclear campus in Pike County, Ohio.
Oklo’s compact “Aurora” reactors are designed for faster deployment and can potentially use recycled nuclear fuel. Initial units could come online around 2030, scaling through the early 2030s.
TerraPower: Bill Gates’ Natrium Bet
Meta is also partnering with TerraPower, backed by Bill Gates, for up to eight Natrium reactors.
The first two units could deliver about 690 MW by 2032, with total capacity reaching roughly 2.8 GW by 2035, including integrated energy storage—critical for grid stability.
Building on Past Commitments
These agreements expand on Meta’s 2025 deal with Constellation Energy to buy roughly 1.1 GW from Illinois’ Clinton Clean Energy Center starting in 2027.
Markets Cheer the Nuclear Revival
Investors wasted no time reacting.
- Oklo shares jumped as much as 19%
- Vistra rose up to 16%
- Meta stock climbed modestly, around 1%
The message is clear: Wall Street believes nuclear is no longer a political liability—it’s a strategic asset.
A Broader Shift in Big Tech
Meta isn’t alone. Microsoft is reviving reactors. Google is backing advanced SMRs. Amazon is circling similar deals. Together, Big Tech is quietly engineering a nuclear renaissance, driven not by ideology but by physics.
Solar and wind are important—but AI requires certainty. Nuclear delivers it.
Meta’s policy chief Joel Kaplan framed the move bluntly: the company intends to be “one of the most significant corporate purchasers of nuclear energy in American history” to support U.S. leadership in AI.
The Bigger Picture
For years, nuclear power was sidelined by regulation, cost overruns, and political resistance. Now, the AI economy is forcing a rethink.
If these projects succeed, they won’t just power Meta’s servers—they’ll help stabilize regional grids, preserve skilled energy jobs, and reinforce American technological leadership in a world where electricity is destiny.
In 2026, Big Tech didn’t just go bigger.
It went nuclear.
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