On Tuesday, Meta announced its intention to solicit proposals from nuclear power developers as part of its strategy to achieve its artificial intelligence and environmental objectives, joining the ranks of major technology firms that are increasingly interested in nuclear energy in light of anticipated surges in power demand. The company aims to incorporate between 1 and 4 gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity in the United States, with plans to commence this initiative in the early 2030s. For context, a standard U.S. nuclear facility typically has a capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt. Meta emphasized its belief that nuclear energy will be crucial in facilitating the transition to a cleaner, more dependable, and diversified electric grid.
According to estimates from Goldman Sachs, the power consumption of U.S. data centers is projected to nearly triple from 2023 to 2030, necessitating an additional 47 gigawatts of generation capacity. In a related development, Microsoft and Constellation Energy recently announced a partnership to reactivate a unit at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, marking a historic first for a data center. This follows a similar arrangement made by Amazon.com in March, when it acquired a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy. Meta is particularly interested in developers who possess expertise in community engagement, development, and permitting, and is open to proposals for both small modular reactors, which are still in the developmental phase, and larger reactors akin to the existing fleet of U.S. nuclear plants. The deadline for developers to submit their proposals in response to this request is set for January 3, 2025.
