Meta announced on Tuesday that it will spend billions of dollars to support the continued operation of the Clinton Clean Energy Center, a 1.1-gigawatt nuclear power plant in central Illinois. Starting in June 2027, the company will purchase all of the plant’s “clean energy attributes,” helping it operate through 2047.

Though the electricity generated will still be distributed through the local grid — and not directly power Meta’s data centers — the purchase is part of the company’s carbon accounting strategy. The aim is not to reduce emissions already on the grid, but to prevent potential increases by keeping an existing clean energy source online.

A Lifeline for Clinton Nuclear Plant

The financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it will support relicensing of the Clinton facility and provide a long-term customer. This effectively ensures the plant’s operation beyond 2027, when existing state subsidies are set to expire.

Originally, Constellation Energy had planned to shut down the Clinton plant in 2017 due to economic pressure from low-cost natural gas. However, state legislators intervened with subsidies that kept the plant operational. The new agreement with Meta will allow it to continue without relying on public funding.

Tech Industry Turns Toward Fission

Big Tech has become an increasingly vocal supporter of nuclear energy. Once threatened by cheaper renewable and fossil alternatives, nuclear power is now experiencing renewed interest thanks to the energy demands of AI and cloud infrastructure. The Meta deal is part of a broader trend of tech giants investing in reliable, zero-carbon power sources.

Meta had previously hinted at interest in developing new nuclear capacity and has received over 50 proposals from potential plant developers across more than 20 U.S. states.

Strategic Timing and Long-Term Vision

While Meta and Constellation suggest that the Clinton plant was at risk of closure, there was no formal shutdown threat after 2017. In fact, Constellation announced in 2022 that it would seek to extend the reactor’s operating license through 2047.

The current deal essentially replaces the need for zero-emission credits from the state and allows the plant to continue functioning without financial support from ratepayers.

Nuclear Energy Gains a New Ally

With this partnership, Constellation secures another powerful tech ally for its nuclear portfolio. In a similar move last September, Microsoft agreed to buy all power from a restarted reactor at Three Mile Island.

Meta’s investment underscores a growing recognition among tech firms that their future — especially with growing AI workloads — may depend on stable, large-scale clean energy like nuclear power.