Big Tech Looking To Resurrect Nuclear Plant As Energy Demand Soars

Google is collaborating with NextEra Energy to help resurrect a nuclear power plant in Iowa to supply reliable electricity for expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) data center operations in the region.

The companies announced in a joint statement that the “cornerstone” of the collaboration will be centered around reopening Duane Arnold Energy Center, Iowa’s only nuclear power plant that was shuttered five years ago. As power demand increases after remaining stagnant for about 20 years, several states have moved to expand nuclear power or are in the process of reopening some decommissioned plants.

“Building on two decades of work in Iowa, including our recent $7 billion investment in the state this May, Google is proud to partner with NextEra Energy to reopen the Duane Arnold Energy Center – a project that will deliver nuclear energy and hundreds of new job opportunities in the Hawkeye State by the beginning of 2029,” Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said in a statement. “This partnership serves as a model for the investments needed across the country to build energy capacity and deliver reliable, clean power, while protecting affordability and creating jobs that will drive the AI-driven economy.”

A Pew Research Center poll released Oct. 16 showed that nuclear energy is growing on Americans all while electricity costs rise and the U.S. stares down a reliability crisis. Two other nuclear plants, including Michigan’s Palisades and Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island are set to hum to life again in October and 2027, respectively, according to multiple reports.

Notably, the Three Mile Island restart reportedly stems from a deal made between Microsoft and Constellation energy to provide power for the massive tech company’s data centers.

AI is driving up American power demand, which has some energy policy experts and public officials concerned over how the tech expansion might inflate electricity costs. Some energy sector experts previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation that it is critical for America to beat China in the AI race and that the U.S. must continue AI innovation, even if it may raise electricity costs for a time.

Notably, one recent Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study states that AI may actually drive electricity costs down. Researchers told The Washington Post that the issue is more nuanced and that electricity costs will depend on how well utilities are planning for the influx of data centers.

President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in the Oval Office and has looked to bolster nuclear energy through multiple executive orders, hailing nuclear power as a reliable energy resource. The Trump administration struck an $80 billion deal with several power companies including Westinghouse to expand nuclear power across America, the companies announced Tuesday.