Google Signs Major Nuclear Energy Agreements With Constellation to Power Data Centers

Google has announced a major agreement with Constellation Energy to modernize six nuclear power plant sites across the United States to supply its rapidly expanding data centers. The 20-year power purchase agreement provides revenue assurances to cover the efficiency overhauls of existing infrastructure, representing more than $4.3 billion in new capital investments by Constellation. The initiative focuses on securing consistent, low-carbon electricity amid skyrocketing computational demands driven by artificial intelligence.

Over the next five years, the partnership aims to upgrade 11 nuclear reactors situated across Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The companies anticipate that new equipment will collectively yield 890 megawatts of additional nuclear capacity, an amount equivalent to the output of a standard large-scale reactor or three small modular reactors. In tandem, Google signed a broader 15-year energy supply deal for 2,700 megawatts to guarantee revenue for Constellation's broader fleet, which includes gas, oil, and renewable assets.

All targeted facilities link directly to the PJM Interconnection grid, the largest regional transmission organization in the US, covering 13 states and key data center hubs such as northern Virginia. PJM has faced severe strain due to surging power requirements, sparking warnings from an independent market monitor that unmanaged data center connections could trigger widespread blackouts. Regulatory bodies and regional governors have raised alarms, with consumer electricity rates surging—climbing as much as 54 percent over five years in states like New Jersey.

The massive energy appetite of AI infrastructure presents severe hurdles to corporate climate commitments. While Google aims for clean power transitions, rising electricity demand caused its carbon emissions to climb by 18 percent last year alongside a 37 percent jump in total power usage. As tech giants absorb extensive grid resources, federal regulators and grid operators continue to debate market rules to prevent data center buildouts from increasing utility costs for everyday consumers.