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**New Albany, Ohio** — In a major push to secure reliable, carbon-free electricity for its expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure, Meta Platforms has signed agreements for up to 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2035. The deals position the tech giant as one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy in the United States.
The announcement, made on January 9, 2026, highlights Meta’s strategy to meet the surging energy demands of its AI data centers, particularly the Prometheus supercluster under construction in New Albany, Ohio. Nuclear power offers the always-on, high-density electricity required for training and running advanced AI models — something intermittent renewables alone cannot reliably provide.
### Scale of the Agreements
The total capacity covered by the new deals equals roughly enough electricity to power about 5 million average American homes. Key partnerships include:
– **Vistra Corp.**: Multi-year power purchase agreements for more than 2.1–2.6 GW from existing nuclear plants, including the Perry and Davis-Besse facilities in Ohio and Beaver Valley in Pennsylvania. The agreements also support potential uprates to increase output from these plants.
– **Oklo**: Collaboration on small modular reactor (SMR) technology. Oklo, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is developing compact reactors suitable for data center applications.
– **TerraPower**: Support for advanced nuclear reactor development. TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, focuses on next-generation designs that promise enhanced safety and efficiency.
These deals build on Meta’s earlier agreement with Constellation Energy, further strengthening its nuclear portfolio.
### Driving Factors Behind the Move
The explosive growth of AI has created an unprecedented demand for electricity. Hyperscale data centers can consume as much power as small cities, and projections show AI-related energy use rising sharply in the coming years. Grid congestion, lengthy permitting timelines for new generation, and the variable nature of solar and wind have pushed companies like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google toward nuclear solutions.
“Nuclear energy provides the firm, clean baseload power essential for American AI leadership,” Meta stated in its announcement. The company emphasized that the initiatives will also create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term operational positions while bolstering the domestic nuclear supply chain.
### Broader Industry Trend
Meta is not alone. Several major technology firms have announced similar nuclear initiatives in recent months, including restarts of retired reactors, investments in SMRs, and long-term power purchase agreements. This corporate interest is helping revive interest in nuclear power in the United States after decades of stagnation.
While specific financial terms of Meta’s deals were not disclosed, such agreements typically include premium pricing in exchange for guaranteed long-term supply and reliability — critical for data centers that must operate 24/7.
### Looking Ahead
The agreements mark a significant milestone in Meta’s infrastructure roadmap. The Prometheus supercluster is expected to come online later in 2026, and the nuclear power will help fuel Meta’s continued investment in AI research and product development.
As the AI race intensifies, corporate America’s embrace of nuclear energy could play a pivotal role in determining which companies — and which countries — maintain a competitive edge in the technology that is reshaping the global economy. Meta’s multi-gigawatt commitment signals strong confidence that nuclear power will be central to powering the AI future.
