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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: Meta has signed a landmark 20-year power-purchase agreement with Constellation Energy to source electricity from the Clinton Clean Energy Center, a nuclear plant in Illinois
• This deal — the first of its kind in the U.S. for an operating nuclear facility — aims to support Meta’s growing energy needs for artificial intelligence infrastructure without drawing additional electricity from the grid
🔭 The context: As AI technologies demand exponentially more computing power, tech giants are seeking long-term, low-carbon energy sources to meet sustainability targets
• Nuclear PPAs, previously rare, are gaining traction; a similar deal between Microsoft and Constellation is supporting the restart of a reactor at Three Mile Island
• With the Clinton plant nearing its relicensing deadline in 2027, Meta’s backing could secure its future operation
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The agreement supports the continued operation of existing nuclear power, which delivers zero-emission baseload electricity
• By anchoring relicensing and modernization investments, such deals may prevent premature shutdowns of clean energy sources
• However, critics point to long-term waste, safety, and economic viability concerns that remain unresolved in nuclear energy expansion
⏭️ What's next: Constellation will proceed with federal relicensing and upgrade plans for the Clinton plant, including extracting an additional 30 MW of capacity
• This model of nuclear PPAs could be replicated to sustain or revive other reactors, especially in deregulated power markets
• Broader adoption depends on regulatory clarity, financing models, and support under evolving federal energy policy
💬 One quote: “In one case we’re supporting the maintenance of power plants that need to stay operating. Then that helps to also drive folks to have the ability to be more creative where they could expand.” — Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy at Meta
📈 One stat: Clinton’s single reactor currently generates up to 1,091 megawatts, enough to power 800,000 homes — with upgrades projected to add 30 megawatts
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Meta, Constellation Energy, and its peers Vistra and Google
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