Meta Secures Long-Term Energy Through U.S. Nuclear Partnerships

Meta has signed multi-year agreements with three nuclear energy developers to supply more than six gigawatts of electricity for its expanding network of data centers. Power will come from a mix of existing nuclear plants operated by Vistra and new generation from small modular reactors being developed by Oklo and TerraPower.

Electricity from legacy reactors is expected to begin flowing this year, with the first newly built reactors targeted for delivery in 2030 and 2032. More units could be added later in the decade as projects move forward.

The investments are intended to meet rising electricity demand tied to artificial intelligence computing and to ease pressure on congested regional power grids.

Why It Matters: Electricity demand from AI computing is growing faster than many regions can support. These agreements tie power purchases to the buildout and operation of nuclear plants, giving companies long-term access to energy while helping developers move projects forward with committed customers and upfront funding.

• Vistra Agreement Extends Operations and Increases Output at Three Plants: Meta signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Vistra that includes 2,176 megawatts of capacity from the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in Ohio and the Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania. The deal also supports 433 megawatts of planned generation increases across the three sites. All three reactors had previously faced the possibility of closure. With Meta’s support, Vistra will begin planning for license extensions and equipment upgrades that will allow the plants to continue operating for years beyond their original schedules.

• Oklo to Build Modular Nuclear Campus in Pike County, Ohio: Meta reached an agreement with Oklo to help fund the development of a new reactor site in southern Ohio. The site will cover 206 acres and will feature Oklo’s Aurora Powerhouse reactor design. Each unit is built to deliver 75 megawatts of electricity. To reach Meta’s total request of 1,200 megawatts, more than a dozen units will be required. Meta’s payments will support early development efforts, including the purchase of nuclear fuel. Oklo went public in 2024 after a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company formed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

• TerraPower to Deliver Advanced Reactors With Thermal Energy Storage: Meta will also support TerraPower’s development of two new reactors that together will supply 690 megawatts by 2032. TerraPower uses molten sodium to transfer heat from the reactor to a generator, and includes an insulated thermal storage system that can deliver an additional 100 to 500 megawatts for more than five hours. Meta holds rights to purchase six more units, which would bring the total to 2,800 megawatts of generation and 1,200 megawatts of storage. The reactors are being co-developed with GE Hitachi, and the site location is still under review.

• Agreements Originated From a Public Call for New Energy Supply: Meta issued a request for proposals in December 2024 seeking partners to add one to four gigawatts of new generation by the early 2030s. The selected projects include near-term supply from Vistra and new capacity from both Oklo and TerraPower. Much of the power will be delivered through the PJM Interconnection, a regional electricity market that spans 13 states. This region has seen increasing congestion as more data centers are built, which has led to longer delays in connecting new generation to the grid.

• Technology Sector Increasingly Tied to Nuclear Power Development: Meta is one of several companies turning to nuclear power to meet rising electricity needs. Microsoft signed a 20-year deal with Constellation to support the restart of the former Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania. Amazon has invested in X-energy, a developer of small modular reactors. Google has formed a partnership with NextEra Energy to help reopen a reactor facility in Iowa. These arrangements vary in structure but share a focus on locking in reliable generation to meet future computing demands.

Go Deeper -> Meta Unveils Sweeping Nuclear-Power Plan to Fuel Its AI Ambitions – The Wall Street Journal

Meta signs deals with three nuclear companies for 6-plus GW of power – TechCrunch